LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 90
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Chapter 90
(House Bill 221)
AN ACT concerning
Natural Resources – Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund – No–Cost Licenses and
Stamps
FOR the purpose of authorizing an eligible sponsor organization providing recreational
opportunities with grant funding from the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund to
provide at no cost an angler’s license and trout stamps, a Chesapeake Bay and
coastal sport fishing license, or a hunting license and any corresponding stamps to
certain persons; and generally relating to the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund.
BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article – Natural Resources
Section 1–405(a), (b), and (d)(3)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
BY repealing and reenacting, without amendments,
Article – Natural Resources
Section 1–405(d)(1) and (2) and 4–607
Annotated Code of Maryland
(2018 Replacement Volume and 2021 Supplement)
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND,
That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:
Article – Natural Resources
1–405.
(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated.
(2) “Eligible sponsor organization” means a nonprofit charitable
organization that provides any of the following opportunities for Gold Star recipients,
disabled veterans or other veterans who could benefit from one of the opportunities
provided, disabled members of the armed forces of the United States or other members of
the armed forces of the United States who could benefit from one of the opportunities
provided, or permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair:
(i) Recreational hunting or fishing, INCLUDING PROVIDING AT NO
COST:
Ch. 90 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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1. AN ANGLER’S LICENSE AND TROUT STAMPS;
2. A CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING
LICENSE; OR
3. A HUNTING LICENSE AND ANY CORRESPONDING
STAMPS;
(ii) Recreational water activities;
(iii) Other recreational outdoor activities;
(iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or
(v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural
jobs.
(3) “Gold Star recipient” means a recipient of the U.S. Department of
Defense Gold Star for surviving spouses, parents, and next of kin of members of the armed
forces of the United States who lost their lives in combat.
(b) (1) (i) Subject to subparagraph (ii) of this paragraph, the Chesapeake
Bay Trust may use the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund established under subsection
(d) of this section to make grants to eligible sponsor organizations.
(ii) In awarding a grant to an eligible sponsor organization that
provides opportunities that the eligible sponsor organization believes benefit veterans or
members of the armed forces of the United States, the Chesapeake Bay Trust shall
determine whether the opportunities provided by the eligible sponsor organization will, in
fact, benefit veterans or members of the armed forces of the United States.
(2) A grant awarded under this subsection may be used only to pay capital,
operational, or programming costs incurred by an eligible sponsor organization in providing
any of the following opportunities:
(i) Recreational hunting or fishing, INCLUDING PROVIDING AT NO
COST:
1. AN ANGLER’S LICENSE AND TROUT STAMPS;
2. A CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING
LICENSE; OR
3. A HUNTING LICENSE AND ANY CORRESPONDING
STAMPS; LAWRENCE J. HOGAN, JR., Governor Ch. 90
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(ii) Recreational water activities;
(iii) Other recreational outdoor activities;
(iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or
(v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural
jobs.
(d) (1) In this subsection, “Fund” means the Healing Hunting and Fishing
Fund.
(2) There is a Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund.
(3) The purpose of the Fund is to provide any of the following opportunities
for Gold Star recipients, disabled veterans or other veterans who could benefit from one of
the opportunities, disabled members of the armed forces of the United States or other
members of the armed forces of the United States who could benefit from one of the
opportunities, and permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair:
(i) Recreational hunting or fishing, INCLUDING P ROVIDING AT NO
COST:
1. AN ANGLER’S LICENSE AND TROUT STAMPS;
2. A CHESAPEAKE BAY AND COASTAL SPORT FISHING
LICENSE; OR
3. A HUNTING LICENSE AND ANY CORRESPONDING
STAMPS;
(ii) Recreational water activities;
(iii) Other recreational outdoor activities;
(iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or
(v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural
jobs.
4–607.
(a) (1) The Department may issue annually a complimentary angler’s license
to the President of the United States, the governor of any state, and any official of the game
and fish department of any other state. Ch. 90 2022 LAWS OF MARYLAND
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(2) The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler’s license to
any Maryland resident who certifies that the resident is a former prisoner of war or 100%
service connected disabled American veteran.
(3) The Department may issue a lifetime complimentary angler’s license to
an out–of–state person who certifies that the person is a former prisoner of war or a 100%
service connected disabled American veteran if the person’s state of residence extends
similar privileges to former prisoners of war or 100% service connected disabled American
veterans of this State.
(b) Not more than 20 complimentary angler’s licenses for each state other than
Maryland shall be outstanding at any time.
(c) A complimentary angler’s license is not transferable and shall be issued
without a fee.
(d) For the purposes of this section, “former prisoner of war” means a person who,
while serving in the active military, naval, or air service of the United States, was forcibly
detained or interned in the line of duty by an enemy government or its agents, or a hostile
force, during a period of armed conflict.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act sh all take effect July
1, 2022.
Approved by the Governor, April 12, 2022.