Before a license or permit may be issued under this article to an employer to engage in an activity in which the employer may employ a covered employee, as defined in § 9-101 of the Labor and Employment Article, the employer shall file with the issuing authority: A certificate of compliance with the Maryland Workers’ Compensation Act; or The number of a workers’ compensation insurance policy or binder.

A license or permit is considered renewed for purposes of this section if the license or permit is issued by a unit of State government to a person for the period immediately following a period for which the person previously possessed the same or a substantially similar license. Before any license or permit may be renewed under this article, the issuing authority shall verify through the Office of the Comptroller that the applicant has paid all undisputed taxes and unemployment insurance contributions payable to the Comptroller or the Secretary of Labor or that the applicant has provided for payment in a manner satisfactory to the unit responsible for collection.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this article, the Department may develop and implement an electronic system for the sale and issuance of licenses, permits, and registrations and the recording and releasing of security interests. The electronic system may include provisions for: Recording titling and registration data; Recording and releasing liens without the issuance of a security interest filing; and Recording information relating to an application for a license, permit, or registration. The Department shall develop the electronic system consistent with the statewide information technology master plan developed under Title 3.5, Subtitle 3 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. Subject to subsection (g) of this section, the Department shall 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 the electronic system may make a voluntary monetary donation to the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund at the time of purchase. The Department shall collect the donations received under paragraph (1) of this subsection and deposit them into the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. Subject to subsection (g) of this section, the Department shall establish a process through which an individual who purchases a license, permit, or registration through the electronic system may make a voluntary monetary donation to the Chesapeake Bay Trust and the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund at the time the license, permit, or registration is purchased. The Department shall: Collect any donations made under this subsection; and Distribute the proceeds of the donations as follows: 50% to the Chesapeake Bay Trust established under § 8–1902 of this article; and 50% to the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund established under § 8–2A–02 of this article. The Chesapeake Bay Trust may use the funds it receives under this subsection only to provide grants and other resources to nonprofit organizations, community associations, civic groups, schools, or public agencies for projects to enhance or promote: Public education, including the publication or production of educational materials, concerning the Chesapeake Bay, the Maryland coastal bays, the Youghiogheny watershed, and other natural resources; The preservation or enhancement of water quality and fish or wildlife habitat; The restoration of aquatic or land resources; Reforestation; and Training in environmental studies or enhancement. Funds distributed to the Chesapeake and Atlantic Coastal Bays 2010 Trust Fund may be used to provide financial assistance necessary to advance Maryland’s progress in meeting the goals established in the 2014 Chesapeake Bay Watershed Agreement and to restore the health of the Atlantic Coastal Bays by focusing on nonpoint source pollution control projects, as authorized under Title 8, Subtitle 2A of this article. On or before December 1 each year, the Department shall report to the Governor and, in accordance with § 2–1257 of the State Government Article, the General Assembly on the collection, distribution, and expenditure of any voluntary monetary donations made under this subsection in the previous fiscal year. Subject to subsection (g) of this section, the Department shall establish a process through which an individual who purchases an angler’s license or a Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license through the electronic system may make a voluntary monetary donation to the Black Bass Conservation Fund at the time of purchase. The Department shall collect the donations received under paragraph (1) of this subsection and deposit them into the Black Bass Conservation Fund, established under § 4–209.1 of this article. The donation process established under subsections (d), (e), and (f) of this section: Shall be made available only to an individual purchasing directly through the electronic system; May not be made available to an individual purchasing through an authorized vendor; and Shall be limited to providing not more than two options to which an individual may make a monetary donation. The Department may adopt regulations to: Implement the electronic system authorized under this section; and Determine the appropriate fee levels that may be charged by a vendor and by the Department for the electronic transmission service.

Except as provided under paragraph (2) of this subsection, the Department shall make available and, on request, issue any license, stamp, permit, registration, or certificate authorized under this article in a digital or electronic format. The Department is not required to issue the following licenses, stamps, permits, registrations, or certificates in a digital or electronic format: A charter boat license issued under § 4–745(d)(1) of this article; A special Chesapeake and coastal sport fishing license issued under § 4–745(d)(2) of this article; A certificate of boat number issued under § 8–712(d) of this article; A hull identification number issued under § 8–711 of this article; A vessel sticker issued under § 8–712.1(d) of this article; A vessel certificate of title issued under § 8–715 of this article; A historical watercraft identification plaque issued under § 8–737(c) of this article; An ORV registration sticker issued under Department regulations; A recreational crabbing boating decal issued under Department regulations; A crabbing charter decal issued under Department regulations; A controlled water ski sticker issued under Department regulations; A Deep Creek Lake buffer strip use permit issued under Department regulations; and A personal watercraft sticker issued under Department regulations. Except as provided under paragraphs (2) and (3) of this subsection, an individual may satisfy any requirement under this article to possess or display a license, stamp, permit, registration, or certificate issued under this article by possessing or displaying the document in a digital or electronic format as provided by the Department. Paragraph (1) of this subsection does not apply to a license, stamp, permit, registration, or certificate listed in subsection (a)(2) of this section. Notwithstanding paragraph (1) of this subsection, an individual is still required to attach, affix, or display numbers, stickers, or decals associated with a license, stamp, permit, registration, or certificate on a vehicle, vessel, dock, or gear as required under this article or Department regulations.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Administrator” means the final authority in the decision making process for accepting land into a land conservation program in the Department of Natural Resources. “Conservation easement” means an easement held or co-held by the Department of Natural Resources or the Maryland Environmental Trust. “Land conservation program” includes the Maryland Environmental Trust, Program Open Space, and the Rural Legacy Program. “Project” means an acquisition or development project under Program Open Space, in accordance with Title 5, Subtitle 9 of this article. “Protected land” means land that is protected by a land conservation program. “Rural Legacy Area” has the meaning stated in § 5-9A-02 of this article. This section applies to applications affecting land that is protected by a program within the Department of Natural Resources, including land that is: Subject to a conservation easement within a designated Rural Legacy Area; Subject to a conservation easement held by the Maryland Environmental Trust; or Subject to a conservation easement funded under Program Open Space. If the administrator of a land conservation program has not approved the use for the land for which an application is made, a county or municipal corporation may deny an application for: A subdivision plat or plan; A residential building permit; or Any other nonagricultural use or activity, including an access road. This section may not be construed to limit the authority of a county to grant or deny an application for a land use permit.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “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 service members or other service members who could benefit from one of the opportunities provided, or permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair: Recreational hunting or fishing, including providing 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; Recreational water activities; Other recreational outdoor activities; Therapeutic outdoor activities; or Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs. “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 who lost their lives in combat. 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. In awarding a grant to an eligible sponsor organization that provides opportunities that the eligible sponsor organization believes benefit veterans or service members, the Chesapeake Bay Trust shall determine whether the opportunities provided by the eligible sponsor organization will, in fact, benefit veterans or service members. 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: Recreational hunting or fishing, including providing 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; Recreational water activities; Other recreational outdoor activities; Therapeutic outdoor activities; or Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs. The Department shall adopt regulations to implement this section, including regulations establishing eligibility requirements for applicants for grants to eligible sponsor organizations. In this subsection, “Fund” means the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. There is a Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. 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 service members or other service members who could benefit from one of the opportunities, and permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair: Recreational hunting or fishing, including providing 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; Recreational water activities; Other recreational outdoor activities; Therapeutic outdoor activities; or Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs. The Chesapeake Bay Trust shall administer the Fund. The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7–302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. The Fund consists of: Donations collected by the Department under § 1–403(d) of this subtitle; Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. The Fund may be used only for grants to eligible sponsor organizations in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State. Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget. Money expended from the Fund for grants to eligible sponsor organizations is supplemental to and is not intended to take the place of funding that otherwise would be appropriated for any of the opportunities specified under subsection (b)(2) of this section that are provided to Gold Star recipients, disabled veterans or other veterans who could benefit from one of the opportunities, disabled service members or other service members who could benefit from one of the opportunities, or permanently disabled persons who require the use of a wheelchair.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Old–growth forest” means a forest: At least 5 acres in size with a preponderance of old trees, of which the oldest exceed at least half the projected maximum attainable age for the species; and That exhibits several of the following characteristics: Shade–tolerant species are present in all age and size classes; Randomly distributed canopy gaps are present; A high degree of structural diversity characterized by multiple growth layers reflecting a broad spectrum of ages is present; An accumulation of dead wood of varying sizes and stages of decomposition accompanied by decadence in live dominant trees is present; and Pit and mound topography can be observed. “State conservation land” means: State parks; Wildlife management areas; and Natural resources management areas. Whenever the Department identifies an old–growth forest on State conservation land, the land shall be managed in a manner that prohibits logging. Nothing in this section may be interpreted to prohibit the Department from taking actions to protect old–growth forest from fire, animals, insects, disease, and erosion in a manner that has minimal adverse effects on the ecosystem and subject to conditions the Secretary considers necessary.

In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. “Annual State park pass” means a pass issued by the Department that allows the holder unlimited day–use entry to all State parks and State park facilities for 1 year. “First responder” has the meaning stated in § 1–301 of the Public Safety Article. “Law enforcement officer” has the meaning stated in § 1–101 of the Public Safety Article. The Department shall provide a discount of at least $40 on annual State park passes for all first responders and law enforcement officers who are Maryland residents.

In this section, “community participation” includes: Facilitating, hosting, or attending community meetings; Providing community perspectives throughout project planning and development; and Serving as a dedicated project partner or community liaison. The Department shall facilitate community participation in project planning and development to ensure: Equitable participation; and That community perspectives, goals, and needs are meaningfully informing project development. The Department may enter into contractual agreements with other State agencies, local governments, and nonprofit organizations to promote and enhance community participation in project planning and development. A contractual agreement entered into under paragraph (1) of this subsection: May allow for other State agencies, local governments, or nonprofit organizations to provide compensation to individuals for community participation in project planning and development; and Shall specify the terms of any grant or payment to be received.