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<section article="gnr" article_name="Natural Resources" number="4-1004.1" title_number="4" title_name="Fish and Fisheries" subtitle_number="10" subtitle_name="Oysters and Clams">
  <level label="a">
    <text>In this section, “former prisoner of war” means an individual 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.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="b">
    <text>There is a recreational oyster license.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="c">
    <text>Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, a person at least 16 years old shall secure a recreational oyster license to harvest oysters in the tidal waters of the State.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="d">
    <level label="1">
      <text>The Department shall develop and publish an application form for obtaining a recreational oyster license.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Except as provided in subsection (f) of this section, to obtain a recreational oyster license to harvest oysters in the waters of the State, a State resident at least 16 years old shall submit to the Department an application using the form developed and published by the Department.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The application shall include:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>The last four digits of the applicant’s Social Security number, if the applicant has a Social Security number;</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Payment of a $10 application fee; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="3">
          <text>Any other information requested by the Department.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>The Department shall use a portion, as determined by the Department, of the application fee collected under this paragraph to replenish public fishery oyster bars by planting shell and juvenile oysters.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>An applicant may not willfully make a false statement or representation to the Department on the application.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="e">
    <level label="1">
      <level label="i">
        <text>A recreational oyster license may be issued by an authorized agent of the Department.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Department may designate a person engaged in a commercial enterprise as an agent to sell recreational oyster licenses.</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>An agent may retain 50 cents for each recreational oyster license issued by the agent.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>The Department shall issue a complimentary recreational oyster license to a resident of the State who certifies that the resident is:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>A former prisoner of war;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>An American veteran who is determined to be unemployable by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs;</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iii">
        <text>A 100% service–connected disabled American veteran; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="iv">
        <text>Blind.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="3">
      <text>The Department shall:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Issue a discounted recreational oyster license to a resident of the State who is a recipient of the Purple Heart Award; and</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>Determine the cost of the discounted application fee.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="f">
    <level label="1">
      <text>Subject to paragraph (2) of this subsection, an individual may catch oysters without a recreational oyster license if the individual:</text>
      <level label="i">
        <text>Owns or leases property bordering tidal waters of the State; or</text>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <level label="1">
          <text>Is the spouse or immediate family member of the individual under item (i) of this paragraph; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Resides on the property owned or leased under item (i) of this paragraph.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <level label="i">
        <text>Before an individual may catch oysters in accordance with this subsection, the individual shall:</text>
        <level label="1">
          <text>Register with the Department; and</text>
        </level>
        <level label="2">
          <text>Provide all information requested by the Department.</text>
        </level>
      </level>
      <level label="ii">
        <text>The Department may not establish a fee to register under this paragraph.</text>
      </level>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="g">
    <text>A licensee shall physically possess the license while harvesting or attempting to harvest oysters.</text>
  </level>
  <level label="h">
    <level label="1">
      <text>A recreational oyster license shall be valid for 1 year following the date of issuance.</text>
    </level>
    <level label="2">
      <text>A licensee may not transfer a recreational oyster license.</text>
    </level>
  </level>
  <level label="i">
    <text>The Department may adopt regulations to implement this section.</text>
  </level>
</section>
