SB 142
Department of Legislative Services
Maryland General Assembly
2020 Session
FISCAL AND POLICY NOTE
Third Reader
Senate Bill 142 (Senator Simonaire, et al.)
Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Environment and Transportation
Natural Resources - Recreational License Donation Program and Healing
Hunting and Fishing Fund - Revisions
This bill repeals the June 30, 2022 termination date of the Recreational License Donation
Program and the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund within the Department of Natural
Resources (DNR). The bill also (1) broadens the authorized uses of the fund; (2) requires
the Chesapeake Bay Trust (CBT), rather than DNR, to administer the fund; (3) requires
DNR to establish a process to allow an individual who purchases specified fishing or
hunting licenses or stamps through DNR’s electronic system to make a donation to the fund
at the time of purchase; and (4) authorizes CBT to use the fund to make grants to “eligible
sponsor organizations” to provide specified recreational outdoor opportunities or
workforce training for green jobs. The bill repeals a related DNR reporting requirement.
The bill takes effect July 1, 2020.
Fiscal Summary
State Effect: Special fund revenues and expenditures continue beyond FY 2022 due to
the repeal of the termination date and may increase minimally beginning in FY 2021 from
the option for COMPASS users to make electronic donations.
Local Effect: None.
Small Business Effect: Minimal.
 Analysis
Bill Summary: DNR must establish a process through which an individual who purchases
an angler’s license, a Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license, or a hunting license
and any corresponding stamps through DNR’s electronic licensing system may make a
voluntary monetary donation to the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund at the time the
license or stamp is purchased. The donation process must be (1) made available only to an
individual purchasing directly through the electronic system and not through an authorized
vendor and (2) limited to providing at most two options to which an individual may make
a monetary donation. DNR must collect the donations received under the bill and deposit
them into the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. DNR is authorized to adopt regulations
to implement the electronic system and determine the appropriate fee levels that may be
charged for the electronic transmission service.
The bill requires CBT, instead of the Secretary of Natural Resources, to administer the
Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. The bill also broadens the purpose of the fund. Under
the bill, the fund’s purpose is to provide any of the following opportunities for Gold Star
recipients, disabled veterans or other veterans who could benefit from the opportunities,
disabled members of the U.S. Armed Forces or other members of the U.S. Armed Forces
who could benefit from the opportunities, and permanently disabled persons who require
the use of a wheelchair: (1) recreational hunting or fishing opportunities; (2) recreational
water or other recreational outdoor activities; (3) therapeutic outdoor activities; or
(4) workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs.
CBT is authorized to use the fund to make grants to eligible sponsor organizations, and the
fund may only be used for that purpose. When awarding a grant, CBT must determine
whether the opportunities provided by the eligible sponsor organization will, in fact, benefit
veterans or members of the U.S. Armed Forces. A grant awarded pursuant to the bill may
be used only to pay capital, operational, or programming costs incurred by the eligible
sponsor organization while providing authorized opportunities to qualified individuals, as
specified. DNR must adopt implementing regulations that establish eligibility requirements
for grant applicants.
An “eligible sponsor organization” is a nonprofit charitable organization that provides any
of the following opportunities for Gold Star recipients, disabled veterans or other veterans
who could benefit from the opportunities provided, disabled members of the
U.S. Armed Forces or other members of the U.S. Armed Forces who could benefit from
the opportunities provided, or permanently disabled persons who require the use of a
wheelchair: (1) recreational hunting or fishing opportunities; (2) recreational water or
other recreational outdoor activities; (3) therapeutic outdoor activities; or (4) workforce
training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs.
SB 142/ Page 2
The bill also makes conforming changes to provisions governing the existing Recreational
License Donation Program under DNR.
Current Law/Background:
DNR Electronic Licensing and COMPASS Portal
DNR is authorized to develop and implement an electronic system for the sale and issuance
of licenses, permits, and registrations. DNR has the authority to adopt implementing
regulations and to determine appropriate fee levels that may be charged by a vendor and
DNR for the electronic transmission service. DNR’s current electronic licensing system is
called COMPASS, and hunting and fishing licenses and associated stamps can be
purchased online through DNR’s COMPASS portal.
Chapter 434 of 2018 required DNR to establish a process through which an individual who
purchases a license, permit, or registration through the COMPASS portal may make a
voluntary monetary donation to the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Chesapeake and Atlantic
Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund through DNR’s electronic licensing system. The donation
process must be made available only to an individual purchasing directly through the
electronic system and not through an authorized vendor.
Recreational License Donation Program and Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund
Chapter 424 of 2016 established, and Chapter 261 of 2019 amended, a program through
which a person may purchase and donate an angler’s license, a Chesapeake Bay and
coastal sport fishing license, or a hunting license and any corresponding stamps. Donations
are deposited into the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund, which also consists of money
appropriated in the State budget to the fund and any other money from any other source
accepted for the benefit of the fund. Interest earnings must be credited to the general fund.
The fund may be used only for donated recreational hunting or fishing licenses or stamps
for use by qualified individuals.
A recipient of a donated license or stamp must be sponsored by a qualifying nonprofit
charitable organization that provides recreational hunting or fishing opportunities for
Gold Star recipients, disabled veterans, disabled members of the U.S. Armed Forces, or
permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair. In addition, a recipient
of a donated hunting license is subject to specified statutory hunting safety requirements.
Chapter 424, as amended by Chapter 261 of 2019, is set to terminate June 30, 2022.
DNR is authorized to issue a donated license or stamp to an eligible resident or nonresident
of the State. DNR advises that there have been two donations to the Recreational License
SB 142/ Page 3
Donation Fund since its inception, and no donated stamps or licenses have been issued.
Chapter 424 of 2016 required DNR to report on the number of stamps and licenses issued
under the program, the nonprofit charitable organizations that sponsored license recipients,
the levels of funding deposited and redeemed from the fund, and any other relevant
information by December 31, 2018. DNR has not submitted this report.
Chesapeake Bay Trust
CBT is a nonprofit grant-making organization dedicated to improving the watersheds of
the Chesapeake Bay, the Maryland Coastal Bays, and the Youghiogheny River. Created in
1985 by the Maryland General Assembly, CBT’s goal is to increase stewardship through
grant programs, special initiatives, and partnerships that support K-12 environmental
education, on-the-ground watershed restoration, community engagement, and the
underlying science of these three realms. Grantees include schools, local governments,
community groups, faith-based groups, watershed organizations, and other not-for-profit
entities.
State Fiscal Effect: Special fund revenues and expenditures continue beyond fiscal 2022
due to the repeal of the termination date of the program and fund and may increase
minimally beginning in fiscal 2021 to the extent that the ability for a person to donate
money to the fund electronically results in an increase in monetary donations to the fund.
DNR advises that the fund currently has a balance of $372, and no licenses have been
issued or donated. Accordingly, future donations to and expenditures from the fund are
estimated to be minimal. However, because the donation process is currently not
automated, the option for COMPASS users to make electronic donations may result in a
minimal increase in special fund revenues. Because interest earnings of the fund are
credited to the general, general fund revenues may also increase, but any such increase is
likely negligible.
Costs for CBT to administer grants from the fund depend on the funds available for grants.
CBT receives no State operating appropriation. Since donations to the Healing Hunting
and Fishing Fund have historically been minimal, as noted above, costs for CBT to
administer the grant program are also estimated to be minimal. CBT advises that
administrative costs are generally about 30% of funds raised: 20% for program staff to
solicit, review, and administer grants and 10% for overhead and indirect costs. The bill
does not authorize funds from the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund to be used for CBT’s
administrative costs.
DNR can make necessary programming changes to COMPASS and develop implementing
regulations with existing resources. This analysis does not account for any electronic
transmission service fees that may be established by DNR through regulation.
SB 142/ Page 4
 Additional Information
Prior Introductions: None.
Designated Cross File: None.
Information Source(s): Department of Natural Resources; Chesapeake Bay Trust;
Department of Legislative Services
Fiscal Note History: First Reader - January 27, 2020
an/lgc Third Reader - February 14, 2020
Analysis by: Kathleen P. Kennedy Direct Inquiries to:
(410) 946-5510
(301) 970-5510
SB 142/ Page 5


Statutes affected:
Text - First - Natural Resources - Recreational License Donation Program and Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund - Revisions: 1-403 Natural Resources, 81-902 Natural Resources, 2-010 Natural Resources, 1-405 Natural Resources, 7-302 Natural Resources, 1-403 Natural Resources, 2-018 Natural Resources
Text - Third - Natural Resources - Recreational License Donation Program and Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund - Revisions: 1-403 Natural Resources, 81-902 Natural Resources, 2-010 Natural Resources, 1-405 Natural Resources, 7-302 Natural Resources, 1-403 Natural Resources, 2-018 Natural Resources