Maryland State Senator Colburn Seeking More NRP officers

     Annapolis, Md. -- Sen. Richard Colburn, R-37-Lower Shore, is sponsoring legislation again in this year's Maryland General Assembly to nearly double the state's Natural Resources Police force.

     Colburn says he wants to make sure that when the state budget improves there will be money allocated to a larger NRP presence on the Chesapeake Bay and other Maryland waterways.

     The bill is co-sponsored by Sen. Roy P. Dyson, D-29-Southern Maryland.

     According to Colburn, SB318, would only come from the Department of Natural Resources' budget if money becomes available. A year ago, Colburn filed the same bill, which passed the Senate before dying in the House of Delegates.

     NRP officers are tasked with patrolling and enforcing the laws across 17,000 miles of rivers and streams and 1,726 square miles of the Chesapeake Bay.

     According to Colburn, doubling the current force would return it to the same number of personnel as in 1990.

     So far this year, as of March 5, the House has failed to act on the proposed legislation.