HARRY HUGHES, Governor

2299

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 855.

As you know, this bill relates exclusively to employees
of the Legislative Branch. In your capacities as presiding
officers and administrative heads of your respective Houses,
you and the President of the Senate have reflected further
upon the relative wisdom of this measure and have concluded
that it contains ambiguities which warrant its veto.

Accordingly, in deference to the Legislative Branch,
and for the reason set forth in your letter of May 22, 1979,
a copy of which is attached to this veto message and made a
part hereof, I have decided to veto House Bill 855.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

Letter from the General Assembly
on House Bill 855

May 22, 1979
The Honorable Harry R. Hughes
Governor of Maryland
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Dear Governor Hughes:

It has been brought to our attention that the intent of
the language in House Bill 855, concerning Legislative
Employees, contains certain ambiguities.

The provisions with regard to employee rights and
benefits are not clear. The rights and benefits of
full—time legislative employees are to be the same as for
employees of the Department of Legislative Reference and the
Department of Fiscal Services. However, within each
department there are two groups of employees—-the
supportive staff which, by law, are in the classified
service of the State and the professional employees who are
unclassified.

Another issue is parity to be maintained with the two
staff agencies. It places our staff directors in the
awkward position of inadvertently determining personnel
policies for legislative employees, which should be
determined solely by the presiding officers.