EXPLANATION: CAPITALS INDICATE MAT TER ADDED TO EXISTIN G LAW.
[Brackets] indicate matter deleted from existing law.
Underlining indicates amendments to bill.
Strike out indicates matter stricken from the bill by amendment or deleted from the law by
amendment.
*hb1181*
HOUSE BILL 1181
M1 5lr3111
CF SB 781
By: Delegate Baker Delegates Baker, Schindler, Valentine, and Wivell
Introduced and read first time: February 6, 2025
Assigned to: Environment and Transportation
Committee Report: Favorable with amendments
House action: Adopted
Read second time: February 27, 2025
CHAPTER ______
AN ACT concerning 1
Task Force on the Establishment of a State Park Dedicated to Veterans’ Care 2
FOR the purpose of establishing the Task Force on the Establishment of a State Park 3
Dedicated to Veterans’ Care to study issues and estimate costs related to the 4
establishment of a State park dedicated to providing recreational opportunities and 5
therapeutic services to veterans; and generally relating to the Task Force on the 6
Establishment of a State Park Dedicated to Veterans’ Care. 7
SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF MARYLAND, 8
That: 9
(a) There is a Task Force on the Establishment of a State Park Dedicated to 10
Veterans’ Care. 11
(b) (1) The Task Force shall include the following members: 12
(i) one member of the Senate of Maryland, appointed by the 13
President of the Senate; 14
(ii) one member of the House of Delegates, appointed by the Speaker 15
of the House; 16
(iii) the Secretary of Natural Resources, or the Secretary’s designee; 17
2 HOUSE BILL 1181
(iv) the Secretary of Veterans and Military Families, or the 1
Secretary’s designee; 2
(v) the Director of the Maryland Park Service, or the Director’s 3
designee; 4
(vi) one county commissioner of Washington County, appointed by 5
the President of the Washington County Board of Commissioners; 6
(vii) the County Administrator of Washington County, or the County 7
Administrator’s designee; 8
(viii) the following members, appointed by the Secretary of Natural 9
Resources: 10
1. one representative of the Hagerstown –Washington 11
County Convention and Visitors Bureau; 12
2. one representative of an organization that provides 13
therapeutic services to veterans; and 14
3. the owner of land located in the Southern portion of 15
Washington County that has been proposed for transfer to the State for the purpose of 16
establishing a State park dedicated to veterans’ care; and 17
(ix) one resident from legislative district 2 in Washington County, 18
designated by a majority of the members of the Washington County Delegation to the 19
General Assembly. 20
(2) In addition to the members specified under paragraph (1) of this 21
subsection, the Secretary of Natural Resources may invite a representative of the National 22
Park Service and any other relevant stakeholders to serve as members of the Task Force. 23
(c) The Secretary of Natural Resources shall designate the chair of the Task 24
Force. 25
(d) The Department of Natural Resources shall provide staff for the Task Force. 26
(e) A member of the Task Force: 27
(1) may not receive compensation as a member of the Task Force; but 28
(2) is entitled to reimbursement for expenses under the Standard State 29
Travel Regulations, as provided in the State budget. 30
(f) The Task Force shall: 31
HOUSE BILL 1181 3
(1) study issues and estimate costs related to the establishment of a State 1
park dedicated to providing recreational opportunities and therapeutic services to veterans; 2
(2) make recommendations regarding: 3
(i) services and amenities to be provided by the park; 4
(ii) operational models for the park, including how operational and 5
maintenance responsibilities could be shared between the Maryland Park Service and 6
partner organizations; 7
(iii) options for funding the initial start–up costs of the park, 8
including infrastructure and capital costs; and 9
(iv) self–sustaining funding models for the ongoing operational costs 10
of the park; and 11
(3) develop an action plan identifying next steps for the establishment of 12
the park. 13
(g) On or before December 1, 2026, the Task Force shall report its findings and 14
recommendations to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2 –1257 of the State 15
Government Article, the Senate Education, Energy, and the Environment Committee and 16
the House Environment and Transportation Committee. 17
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect July 18
1, 2025. It shall remain effective for a period of 2 years and, at the end of June 30, 2027, 19
this Act, with no further action required by the General Assembly, shall be abrogated and 20
of no further force and effect. 21
Approved:
________________________________________________________________________________
Governor.
________________________________________________________________________________
Speaker of the House of Delegates.
________________________________________________________________________________
President of the Senate.