WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

Under current law, it is the farm labor contractor's responsibility to register, while the
Commissioner attempts to facilitate that registration. Senate Bill 355 would shift the
burden of registration from the contractor to the Commissioner. Contractors who fail to
register might argue that their failure to register was actually the fault of the
Commissioner for not having first contacted them.

Moreover, Senate Bill 355 would prohibit the Commissioner of Labor and Industry from
requiring that a farm labor contractor insure vehicles used to transport migrant workers
with a company authorized to do business in Maryland. Requiring the insurer to be
authorized to do business in Maryland provides important safeguards for Maryland
citizens who may be involved in an accident with an out-of-state contractor. The
requirement ensures that the contractor's vehicles are insured by a company meeting
Maryland's strict solvency standards, and thus able to pay any proper claim. It further
ensures that the Maryland Insurance Commissioner will have jurisdiction over the
insurer's handling of any claims. I believe Maryland citizens should continue to have
these protections from out-of-state contractors who use Maryland's roads for extended
periods of time.

Since I believe that Maryland's current Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act is
necessary, fair, and operating successfully, I have vetoed Senate Bill 355.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

Senate Bill No. 355

AN ACT concerning

Migrant Agricultural Workers - Farm Labor Contractor Registration Contractors ,

FOR the purpose of repealing the provisions of certain laws requiring certain persons ,
to verify a certificate of registration before using'the services of Q farm labor ,
contractor concerning migrant agricultural workers; and generally relating to the ,
repeal of certain requirements before certain persons engage or use the 9ervice9 of _;
Q farm labor con tractor requiring the Commissioner of Labor and Industry to
coordinate with certain agencies to assist certain farm contractors in a certain
registration process; requiring that certain registration assistance be provided;
requiring that certain farmers be notified on the status of certain farm labor:
contractors; altering certain insurance requirements; and generally relating to the
registration of farm labor contractors.

BY repealing

Article 100—Work, Labor and Employment

Section 8QD

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1985 Replacement Volume and 1989 Supplement)

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