1. (a) There is a Natural Resources Police Force in the Department that serves as a public safety agency with statewide authority to enforce conservation, boating, and criminal laws.

2. (b) The responsibilities of the Natural Resources Police Force include:

   1. (1) Providing maritime and rural search and rescue services;
   2. (2) Providing public education in hunting, boating, and water safety;
   3. (3) Providing primary law enforcement services for State parks, State forests, wildlife management areas, and public lands owned and managed by the Department; and
   4. (4) Serving as the lead agency for maritime homeland security on State waterways.

Added as Natural Resources § 2-201 by Acts 1973, 1st Sp. Sess., c. 4, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1974. Amended by Acts 1977, c. 784, § 5. Renumbered as Natural Resources § 1-201.1 and amended by Acts 2010, c. 367, § 1, eff. June 1, 2010. Renumbered as Natural Resources § 1-201.2 by Acts 2022, c. 203, § 1, eff. July 1, 2022.

Formerly Art. 41, § 233.