(3) The Department shall issue a certificate of competency and safety to
each person who successfully completes the course of instruction, and the certificate
shall be valid until revoked by the Department.

(4) The Department may not issue a certificate of competency and safety
to an individual under the age of 18 unless the individual has completed satisfactorily
the course of instruction, or produces a certificate of competency or a hunting license
issued prior to July 1, 1978 or makes out an affidavit that the individual had such a
license.

(c) (1) The Department shall institute and coordinate a statewide course of
instruction in conservation and in competency and safety in the handling of firearms,
and in so doing, the Department may cooperate with any political subdivision or with
any reputable organization having as 1 of its objectives the promotion of competency
and safety in the handling of firearms, such as the National Rifle Association and
local rod and gun clubs.

(2) The Department may conduct the course in hunter safety and issue
the certificates, using Department personnel or other persons at times and in areas
where other competent agencies are unable or unwilling to meet the demand for
instruction.

(3) Any similar certificate, or hunting license, issued outside the State
by a governmental agency, shall be accepted as complying with the requirements of
paragraph (1) of the subsection, if the privileges are reciprocal for Maryland
residents.

(d) The Department shall adopt regulations to provide for the course of
instruction and the issuance of the certificates consistent with the purpose of this
section.

(e) (1) On or after July 1, 1977 any person who obtains a hunting license by
presenting a fictitious certificate of competency or who attempts to obtain a
certificate of competency or hunting license through fraud shall have his hunting
privileges revoked by the Department for a period not to exceed 1 year.

(2) Any applicant who is refused a certificate of competency under this
section may appeal the decision or action of the issuing unit to the Secretary.

(f) (1) The Department or a person designated by the Department may
issue a 1-year gratis hunting license to a Maryland resident under the age of 16 years
who has successfully completed a hunter safety course.

(2) An individual may be issued only one such license during the
individual's lifetime.

(G) THE DEPARTMENT OR A PERSON DESIGNATED BY THE DEPARTMENT
SHALL ISSUE A COMPLIMENTARY CONSOLIDATED HUNTING LICENSE EACH YEAR TO
AN INDIVIDUAL WHO: