EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
*hb0221*
HOUSE BILL 221
M2 2lr1116
HB 755/21 – ENT CF 2lr1354
By: Delegate Thiam
Introduced and read first time: January 13, 2022
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
A BILL ENTITLED
AN ACT concerning 1
Natural Resources – Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund – No–Cost Licenses and 2
Stamps 3
FOR the purpose of authorizing an eligible sponsor organization providing recreational 4
opportunities with grant funding from the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund to 5
provide at no cost an angler’s license and trout stamps, a Chesapeake Bay and 6
coastal sport fishing license, or a hunting license and any corresponding stamps to 7
certain persons; and generally relating to the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. 8
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments, 9
Article – Natural Resources 10
Section 1–405(a), (b), and (d)(3) 11
Annotated Code of Maryland 12
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 13
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments, 14
Article – Natural Resources 15
Section 1–405(d)(1) and (2) and 4–607 16
Annotated Code of Maryland 17
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement) 18
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 19
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows: 20
Article – Natural Resources 21
1–405. 22
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. 23
(2) “Eligible sponsor organization” means a nonprofit charitable 24 2 HOUSE BILL 221
organization that provides any of the following opportunities for Gold Star recipients, 1
disabled veterans or other veterans who could benefit from one of the opportunities 2
provided, disabled members of the armed forces of the United States or other members of 3
the armed forces of the United States who could benefit from one of the opportunities 4
provided, or permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair: 5
(i) Recreational hunting or fishing, INCLUDING PROVIDING AT NO 6
COST: 7
1. AN ANGLER’S LICENSE AND TROUT STAMPS; 8
2. A CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING 9
LICENSE; OR 10
3. A HUNTING LICENSE AND ANY CORRESPONDING 11
STAMPS; 12
(ii) Recreational water activities; 13
(iii) Other recreational outdoor activities; 14
(iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or 15
(v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural 16
jobs. 17
(3) “Gold Star recipient” means a recipient of the U.S. Department of 18
Defense Gold Star for surviving spouses, parents, and next of kin of members of the armed 19
forces of the United States who lost their lives in combat. 20
(b) (1) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Chesapeake 21
Bay Trust may use the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund established under subsection 22
(d) of this section to make grants to eligible sponsor organizations. 23
(ii) In awarding a grant to an eligible sponsor organization that 24
provides opportunities that the eligible sponsor organization believes benefit veterans or 25
members of the armed forces of the United States, the Chesapeake Bay Trust shall 26
determine whether the opportunities provided by the eligible sponsor organization will, in 27
fact, benefit veterans or members of the armed forces of the United States. 28
(2) A grant awarded under this subsection may be used only to pay capital, 29
operational, or programming costs incurred by an eligible sponsor organization in providing 30
any of the following opportunities: 31
(i) Recreational hunting or fishing, INCLUDING PROVIDING AT NO 32
COST: 33 HOUSE BILL 221 3
1. AN ANGLER’S LICENSE AND TROUT STAMPS; 1
2. A CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING 2
LICENSE; OR 3
3. A HUNTING LICENSE AND ANY CORRESPONDING 4
STAMPS; 5
(ii) Recreational water activities; 6
(iii) Other recreational outdoor activities; 7
(iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or 8
(v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural 9
jobs. 10
(d) (1) In this subsection, “Fund” means the Healing Hunting and Fishing 11
Fund. 12
(2) There is a Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. 13
(3) The purpose of the Fund is to provide any of the following opportunities 14
for Gold Star recipients, disabled veterans or other veterans who could benefit from one of 15
the opportunities, disabled members of the armed forces of the United States or other 16
members of the armed forces of the United States who could benefit from one of the 17
opportunities, and permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair: 18
(i) Recreational hunting or fishing, INCLUDING P ROVIDING AT NO 19
COST: 20
1. AN ANGLER’S LICENSE AND TROUT STAMPS; 21
2. A CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING 22
LICENSE; OR 23
3. A HUNTING LICENSE AND ANY CORRESPONDING 24
STAMPS; 25
(ii) Recreational water activities; 26
(iii) Other recreational outdoor activities; 27
(iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or 28
4 HOUSE BILL 221
(v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural 1
jobs. 2
4–607. 3
(a) (1) The Department may issue annually a complimentary angler’s license 4
to the President of the United States, the governor of any state, and any official of the game 5
and fish department of any other state. 6
(2) The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler’s license to 7
any Maryland resident who certifies that the resident is a former prisoner of war or 100% 8
service connected disabled American veteran. 9
(3) The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler’s license to 10
an out–of–state person who certifies that the person is a former prisoner of war or a 100% 11
service connected disabled American veteran if the person’s state of residence extends 12
similar privileges to former prisoners of war or 100% service connected disabled American 13
veterans of this State. 14
(b) Not more than 20 complimentary angler’s licenses for each state other than 15
Maryland shall be outstanding at any time. 16
(c) A complimentary angler’s license is not transferable and shall be issued 17
without a fee. 18
(d) For the purposes of this section, “former prisoner of war” means a person who, 19
while serving in the active military, naval, or air service of the United States, was forcibly 20
detained or interned in the line of duty by an enemy government or its agents, or a hostile 21
force, during a period of armed conflict. 22
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act s hall take effect July 23
1, 2022. 24