What We Have Accomplished
We collectively guided the Conservation Law Enforcement Bill of 2010 through the Maryland Legislature,
which is no minor task. There are hundreds of bills introduced into the legislature each session. Around 75%
of the bills do NOT get passed. Everyone who sent in the post cards, mailed letters, telephoned members, and
appeared at the legislature should view himself or herself as part of why our efforts were successful. We got the
recognition of the law enforcement dilemma before the Maryland General Assembly. We are able to get the
Conservation Law Enforcement Act of 2010 passed with the help of a lot of organizations and people like you.
The president of the Lodge spent many days in the legislature going door to door soliciting votes for our bill.
Again during the 2011 session Lodge 8 and our supporters worked the legislature. We clearly educated a lot of the legislature and got the support of members we addressed. Unfortunately, the bill died 10 minutes before the session closed for the year.
The items below document what has happened. In general, more of the legislature knows that the Maryland Natural Resources Police is an agency of the Department of Natural Resources, a fact still not known to all of them. More delegates and senators now know NRP needs funding.
Directory for Information
- The Conservation Law Enforcement Act of 2010 sets the foundation for the future. DNR is directed find funding.
- The Maryland Legislative Sportsmen's Caucus sees Maryland's Conservation Law Enforcement Dilemma in a publication dated March 12, 2009. The document examines the magnitude of the Dilemma, references the Report from the Task Force on Fishery Management's findings and recommendations, and, in general, completely supports the NRP.
- The President of the FOP's statement and summary of what was gained by the bill can be read in either Word or PFD form.
- Report of the Task Force on Fishery Management - December 1, 2008 acknowledges the situation that the Maryland Natural Resources Police, and offers funding suggestions as well as other recommendations.
- SB937 Natural Resources Police Force – Number of Officers was the 2011 bill that would have phased in 400 officers by 2021
- Return to the Support NRP Page
Highlights of the
Conservation Law Enforcement Act of 2010
The Conservation Law Enforcement Act of 2010 passed with amendments. You can read the bill as it passed in the legislature. This bill sets the foundation from which to build a stronger more vibrant Natural Resources Police.
Day after day, Lodge members along with Bill Miles of the Maryland Sportsmen's Legislative Foundation were in Annapolis, shaking hands, visiting offices, talking with General Assembly members, providing copies of the SB987, explaining our dilemma, asking for votes, and even explaining to a few Legislative members, what the Natural Resources Police are. They recognize Game Warden and Marine Police, but not NRP.
We knew from the start that SB987 was just the building point. The vote shows there is strong support for NRP in the legislature.
The strongest part of the bill says: "SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That the Department of Natural Resources, in cooperation with sportsmen groups, and any other entities deemed appropriate by the Department, shall study funding policies that may bolster the ranks of the Natural Resources Police Force in order to help meet 21st century demands on conservation law enforcement, including policies by which revenues realized under this Act may be used to leverage additional revenues from the public and private sectors. On or before October 1, 2011, the Department shall report its findings and recommendations, in accordance with 2-1246 of the State Government Article, to the Senate Education, Health, and Environmental Affairs Committee and the House Environmental Matters Committee."
To return to the Directory, Click Here, or go back to the Support NRP Page.
SB937 NRP Minimum Number of Officers
SB937 appeared to have the votes lined up for passage on Monday April 13th in the House's Environemental Matters and Appropriation and Taxation Committees, but the bill suddenly died in the legislature, 10 minutes before the session ended. The change was sudden and unexpected, as it was this way all session when you thought it was okay and then it dies. The legislative effort certainly was not a total loss. The fact that the Senate passed the bill 45 to 0 shows the Senate understands the situation NRP faces. We also know the House of Delegates will need more educating on Natural Resources Police Force's manpower dilemma and what NRP stands for and what the police force does.
To return to the Directory, Click Here, or go back to the Support NRP Page.