J. MILLARD TAWES, GOVERNOR 197

(d) Within the limits of funds available, each Department is au-
thorized to enter into agreements with the federal government,
with any municipality or other political subdivision of the State, or
with any private agency for sharing the cost of any development,
construction, or improvement of waterways, or facilities which are
determined to have beneficial value to the boating public.

8. RULES AND REGULATIONS

(a) The Department of Tidewater Fisheries and the Department
of Game and Inland Fish shall jointly establish uniform regulations
governing the numbering, safety equipment, and operation of the
vessels subject to this Article so that any such vessel complying
therewith may be operated with equal freedom, or under similar
requirements, upon all the waters of Maryland. The numbering
system to be used shall conform to the numbering system, promul-
gated by the federal government. Safety and operational regula-
tions dealing with non-tidal waters shall be adopted only with the
recommendation of the Game and Inland Fish Commission. Such
regulations shall not be in conflict with federal laws and regulations
applicable to such vessels upon the navigable waters of the United
States which are within this State. The Departments are authorized
and directed to alter and amend their regulations as need be, from
time to time, to prevent conflict with federal laws.

(b) Each Department is authorized to prescribe special rules and
regulations governing the operation of vessels in special areas or
under special conditions within their respective jurisdictions.

(c) For the purpose of establishing, amending, or rescinding the
regulations of the Department of Tidewater Fisheries, the Chair-
men of both the Senate of Maryland and House of Delegates Com-
mittees on the Chesapeake Bay and Tributaries may sit in meetings
in an advisory capacity with members of the Tidewater Fisheries
Commission.

(d) Such rules and regulations of the Departments as are au-
thorized by this Article shall not become effective unless they have
been publicly advertised

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IN NEWSPAPERS
HAVING DAILY AND WEEKLY CIRCULATION AT LEAST
THIRTY DAYS before the date on which they become effective.
When any fifty (50) citizens of the State shall file a petition with the
Department during the fifteen day period before any rules or regula-
tions become effective, the respective Department shall conduct a
public hearing on the proposed rules or regulations.

(e) No municipality, or other local authority, shall establish any
regulations of a local nature not in conformity with State regula-
tions authorized herein.

(f) On any proposed regulations affecting the equipment and/or
operation of any vessel subject to this Article, each Department shall
solicit the advice and opinions of the officials of representative
boating associations, yacht clubs, and from local, State or Federal
officials or agencies having knowledge or experience with the sub-
ject of the proposed regulations?, WHICH SHALL HAVE REPRE-
SENTATION THROUGH AN ADVISORY COMMITTEE TO BE
APPOINTED BY THE DEPARTMENT OF TIDEWATER FISH-
ERIES AND THE GAME AND INLAND FISH COMMISSION.