EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MATTER ADDED TO EXIS TING LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb1304*
HOUSE BILL 1304
M2 2lr2710
By: Delegates Mautz, Adams, and Jacobs
Introduced and read first time: February 11, 2022
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Offshore Blind Sites – Licensing Process 2
FOR the purpose of altering the licensing process for offshore blind sites to require the 3
Department of Natural Resources to review applications and issue licenses on a 4
first–come, first–served basis; requiring the Department to establish different 5
licensing days for each county; and generally relating to the licensing of offshore 6
blind sites. 7
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 8
Article – Natural Resources 9
Section 10–608 10
Annotated Code of Maryland 11
(2012 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 12
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 13
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 14
Article – Natural Resources 15
10–608. 16
(a) A Maryland resident who possesses a current year or prior year hunting 17
license may apply to the Department to license riparian shoreline for the purpose of 18
establishing an offshore blind site. 19
(b) An applicant for a license shall: 20
(1) Submit to the Department: 21
(i) An application on a form provided by the Department; and 22
2 HOUSE BILL 1304
(ii) A signed statement that: 1
1. The location of the blind site is at least 125 yards from all 2
other previously licensed riparian shoreline; and 3
2. The offshore blind site complies with all other pertinent 4
laws and regulations; and 5
(2) Pay to the Department an application fee of $20 for each license 6
requested. 7
(c) (1) The completed application shall be submitted to THE APPROPRIATE 8
Department regional service [centers] CENTER or other designated local [sites] SITE on 9
[days] A DAY designated by the Department. 10
(2) The Department shall establish and adequately staff a site in each 11
county where licensing occurs. 12
(3) The Department shall provide public notice of the licensing process, 13
INCLUDING THE DATES AND TIMES DURING WHI CH APPLICATIONS WILL BE 14
ACCEPTED AT EACH DES IGNATED SITE OR REGIONAL SERVICE CENTER, through the 15
media, Internet, and other sources. 16
(4) [Licensing] SUBJECT TO PARAGRAPH (5) OF THIS SUBSECTION , 17
LICENSING shall begin on or before the first Tuesday in August of each year on dates set 18
by the Department. 19
(5) LICENSING DAYS SHALL DIFFER FOR EACH COUN TY WHERE 20
LICENSING OCCURS . 21
(d) Each designated site or regional service center shall have maps available by 22
July 15 of each year that show the location of all shoreline licensed by riparian landowners. 23
(e) Except for riparian landowners licensing their own property, a person may not 24
obtain more than two licenses per day. 25
(f) THE DEPARTMENT SHALL REVI EW APPLICATIONS AND ISSUE LICENSES 26
ON A FIRST–COME, FIRST–SERVED BASIS. 27
(G) Each license shall apply to 250 yards of shoreline. Blind sites shall be located 28
equidistant from the boundaries described by the license. 29
[(g)] (H) In Kent County and Queen Anne’s County and on the nontidal waters 30
of the Potomac River and its nontidal tributaries, only a riparian landowner owning the 31
amount of shoreline required under § 10–607(d) of this subtitle or a landowner’s lessee, 32
licensee, or assignee may erect and maintain a stationary blind or blind site. 33 HOUSE BILL 1304 3
[(h)] (I) Licenses are valid until June 30 of the following year and shall be issued 1
in the order the applications are received in person. 2
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 3
1, 2022. 4