Legislation
Below are legislative bills currently being heard (Legislation 2012 as of 2/3/2012) by the Maryland General Assembly. Please note that this website is updated weekly. For more up-to-date information please visit the Maryland General Assembly Webpage.

HB 35 – Private Property Rights – Regulatory Infringement - Compensation
Hearing 2/2/12 at 1pm) Environmental Matters
If the application of a regulations adopted by Department of the Environment, DNR, or the Department of Planning infringes on a private property right, this bill gives an owner of private property a cause of action in certain circumstances against the agency. The bill provides for a specific statute of limitations, indicates the venue in which the action should be filed, and limits the amount of damages that may be awarded.

HB 269 – Natural Resources - Boating - Disclosure of Personal Information
(Hearing 2/15/12 at 1pm) Environmental Matters
The bill narrows the prohibition against and exception for the disclosure of certain records held by DNR. The prohibition and exception apply only to personal information about the owner of the registered vessel. The bill clarifies the application of certain exceptions.

HB 393 - Natural Resources - Shark or Elasmobranch Fins - Prohibition on Possession or Distribution
(Crossfile – SB 465) (Hearing 2/22/12, 1pm) Environmental Matters
Prohibiting a person from possessing, selling, offering for sale, trading, or distributing a fin or tail of a shark or other elasmobranch; establishing specified civil penalties for violations of the Act; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to adopt regulations to implement the Act; and defining "shark fin".

HB 478 - Natural Resources - Removal of Abandoned Fishing Nets
(Crossfile – SB 385) (First Reader 2/2/12) Education Health and Environmental Affairs
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to remove from the waters of the State and dispose of any abandoned fishing net found by or reported to the Department within 1 day after the net is found or reported.

SB 101 – Department of Natural Resources – Tracking Device on Vessel – Prohibition Without Court Order
(Hearing 1/31/12 at 1:30pm) Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs & Judicial Proceedings
SB 101 prohibits the Secretary of DNR or a DNR police officer from placing or installing a tracking device on a vessel without first obtaining a specified court order. It additionally establishes the manner in which to obtain such court orders.

SB 127 – Natural Resources – Marine Gathering Permit – Establishment
(Hearing 1/31/12 at 1:30pm) Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs
SB 127 requires that persons wishing to sponsor or hold a marine gathering obtain a permit from DNR and establishes the timeframe and manner in which to obtain a permit. The bill requires DNR to adopt regulations governing marine gathering permits. This bill further requires that before issuing a permit DNR notifies the local law enforcement unit of the county in which the gathering will occur. Penalties for violations of the section are detailed.

SB 237 – Maryland Offshore Wind Energy Act of 2012
(Hearing 2/14/12 at 1pm) Finance
The bill alters Maryland renewable energy portfolio standard to include a specified amount of energy from offshore wind energy, enumerates requirements for those applying for offshore wind projects, and details requirements and authorizations of the Public Service Commission with regards to offshore wind. The bill prohibits certain activities within the Beach Erosion Control District and provides for certain exceptions to this prohibition.

SB 318 – Natural Resources Police Force - Number of Officers
(Hearing 2/21/12, 1pm) Education Health and Environmental Affairs
SB 318 states the intent of the General Assembly that the Natural Resources Police Force employ at least 435 officers by fiscal year 2022 and authorizes the Police Force to increase the number of cadets and recruits in the Police Academy until the size of the force is sufficient to meet the mission of the Department.

SB 330 – Agriculture - Total Maximum Daily Loads - Regulations
(Hearing 2/21/12, 1pm) Education Health and Environmental Affairs
SB 330 prohibits the Department of Agriculture, Department of the Environment, and DNR from adopting regulations that intend to help MD meet the agricultural sector requirements of the TMDLs for the Chesapeake Bay unless certain states (i.e., New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, West Virginia, and District of Columbia) achieve or exceed the percentage reductions of nitrogen and phosphorous that the State has achieved from 2009 levels.]

SB 385 - Natural Resources - Removal of Abandoned Fishing Nets
(Crossfile – HB 478) (Hearing 2/21/12, 1pm) Education Health and Environmental Affairs
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to remove from the waters of the State and dispose of any abandoned fishing net found by or reported to the Department within 1 day after the net is found or reported.

SB 465 - Natural Resources - Shark or Elasmobranch Fins - Prohibition on Possession or Distribution
(Crossfile – HB 393) (First Reader 2/2/12) Environmental Matters
Prohibiting a person from possessing, selling, offering for sale, trading, or distributing a fin or tail of a shark or other elasmobranch; establishing specified civil penalties for violations of the Act; requiring the Department of Natural Resources to adopt regulations to implement the Act; and defining "shark fin".

SB 443 - Natural Resources - Public Shellfish Fishery Area – Standards
(First Reader 2/2/12) Education Health and Environmental Affairs
Requiring the Department of Natural Resources to establish areas in the Chesapeake Bay as part of the public shellfish fishery area if the density of oysters is at least one oyster that measures 1 inch or more from hinge to bill per acre.

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