(a) (1) In this section the following words have the meanings indicated. (2) "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: (i) Recreational hunting or fishing, including providing at no cost: 1. An angler's license and trout stamps; 2. A Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license; or 3. A hunting license and any corresponding stamps; (ii) Recreational water activities; (iii) Other recreational outdoor activities; (iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or (v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs. (3) "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. (b) (1) (i) 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. (ii) 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. (2) 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: (i) Recreational hunting or fishing, including providing at no cost: 1. An angler's license and trout stamps; 2. A Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license; or 3. A hunting license and any corresponding stamps; (ii) Recreational water activities; (iii) Other recreational outdoor activities; (iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or (v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs. (c) The Department shall adopt regulations to implement this section, including regulations establishing eligibility requirements for applicants for grants to eligible sponsor organizations. (d) (1) In this subsection, "Fund" means the Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. (2) There is a Healing Hunting and Fishing Fund. (3) 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: (i) Recreational hunting or fishing, including providing at no cost: 1. An angler's license and trout stamps; 2. A Chesapeake Bay and coastal sport fishing license; or 3. A hunting license and any corresponding stamps; (ii) Recreational water activities; (iii) Other recreational outdoor activities; (iv) Therapeutic outdoor activities; or (v) Workforce training for green jobs, including outdoor agricultural jobs. (4) The Chesapeake Bay Trust shall administer the Fund. (5) (i) The Fund is a special, nonlapsing fund that is not subject to § 7-302 of the State Finance and Procurement Article. (ii) The State Treasurer shall hold the Fund separately, and the Comptroller shall account for the Fund. (6) The Fund consists of: (i) Donations collected by the Department under § 1-403(d) of this subtitle; (ii) Money appropriated in the State budget to the Fund; and (iii) Any other money from any other source accepted for the benefit of the Fund. (7) The Fund may be used only for grants to eligible sponsor organizations in accordance with subsection (b) of this section. (8) (i) The State Treasurer shall invest the money of the Fund in the same manner as other State money may be invested. (ii) Any interest earnings of the Fund shall be credited to the General Fund of the State. (9) Expenditures from the Fund may be made only in accordance with the State budget. (10) 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.
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