VETOES

State House

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed Senate Bill 919.

This bill requires the certification agency designated by the Board of Public Works to
evaluate the continued compliance of the Minority Business Enterprise Program with
the requirements of the Croson decision and any subsequent federal or constitutional
requirements.

House Bill 1540, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on May
29, 1990, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign
Senate Bill 919.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

Senate Bill No. 919

AN ACT concerning

Procurement - Minority Business Participation

FOR the purpose of providing for the certification of minority business enterprises
through a single process; altering certain definitions relating to minority business
participation in State government; requiring a certain study and the issuance of a
certain report by a certain date; making provisions of this Act severable; providing
for the termination of this Act; and generally relating to minority business
participation in State procurement.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - State Finance and Procurement
Section 14-301 through 14-306
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1988 Replacement Volume and 1989 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, In 1978 the General Assembly of Maryland enacted Chapter 575,
creating a Minority Business Enterprise program as a remedy for past discrimination in
the expenditure of State public contract dollars and, in 1983, enacted Chapter 193,
reaffirming its conclusion that the State's Minority Business Enterprise program was
necessary and should be continued; and

WHEREAS, In January, 1989, the Supreme Court of the United States, in City
of Richmond v. J. A. Croson Co. held that State and local minority business programs

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