Committee OKs accommodation for licensure exams that require biometric scans
Summary
The committee approved an amendment to HB 0846 to require reasonable accommodations for individuals with sincerely held objections to biometric identification on licensing exams; the bill does not ban biometrics and passed unanimously, advancing to Health.
Representative Renaud described HB 0846, which would require licensing boards, contractors and third-party administrators to provide reasonable accommodations when biometric identification (for example, a palm scan) is required for a professional licensure exam and a test-taker objects on sincerely held grounds. The sponsor said the amendment clarifies the bill applies to third-party vendors and does not ban biometrics, noting government-issued identification remains an alternative in many situations.
The sponsor emphasized safeguards in the amendment, including a delayed effective date to allow the state to work with national testing providers if necessary. "This legislation ensures that when biometric identification is required as part of a licensing exam, individuals with a sincerely held objection must be provided a reasonable accommodation," Representative Renaud said.
Committee members asked whether the bill risked losing reciprocity or accreditation; the sponsor pointed to a stopgap effective date giving the General Assembly time to respond if national testing bodies object. The committee attached the rewrite amendment and voted 22–0 to send the bill to Health.
Next steps: HB 0846 will go to the House Health committee for further consideration.
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