2132 VETOES

employees of a State or a political subdivision thereof must
be made by the State. Senate Bill No. 193 would authorize
such agreements by the County Commissioners of Howard
County and would not conform to the requirements of the
Federal Act.

There is pending at the present time Senate Bill No. 236,
which authorized on a State-wide basis agreements by the
State with the Federal Security Administrator to supply Social
Security coverage to employees of the State or any political
subdivision thereof eligible for such coverage. This Bill would
accomplish for Howard County, in a manner consistent with
the Social Security Act Amendments of 1950, what Senate
Bill No. 193 improperly attempts to accomplish. In connec-
tion with Senate Bill No. 236, I have had one of my Assistants
meet with the Regional Representative of the Federal Security
Administrator and his legal staff in order to discuss the Bill
and any changes which might be deemed necessary therein. As
a result of the conference, some amendments to Senate Bill No.
236 have been prepared, which I have already transmitted to
the Chairman of the Banking, Insurance and Social Security
Committee of the Senate where the Bill presently stands.
These amendments will permit overall agreements by the
Board of Public Works with the Federal Security Administra-
tor to provide Social Security coverage to the employees of any
political subdivision, and also permit agreements between the
Board of Public Works and the political subdivision desiring
to afford Social Security coverage to its employees to provide
a method of making payments to the State of contributions to
be made to the Federal Government and expenses of the State,
so that the Board of Public Works will act as a conduit in com-
pliance with Federal law, without any cost to the State. I am
informed that during the course of this conference, Senate Bill
No. 193 was also discussed and the Regional Representative
of the Federal Security Administrator stated flatly that the
Administrator would not act under its terms to enter into an
Agreement with the County Commissioners of Howard County
because the Bill did not comply with Federal law. "

Accordingly, because Senate Bill No. 193 does not conform to
applicable provisions of Federal law and for the additional
reason that Senate Bill No. 236 will accomplish for Howard
County and other jurisdictions what is improperly attempted
to be accomplished in Senate Bill No. 193, the Attorney Gen-
eral has recommended and I agree that Senate Bill No. 193
should be vetoed.

Respectfully,

THEODORE R. MCKELDIN,

Governor