14                           JOURNAL OF PROCEEDINGS                   [June 22

The Plan, which now provides for the extension of liability
insurance coverages to persons who, for reasons that substantially
increase the degree of exposure to claims, cannot arrange for such
coverages through normal insurance channels, is an essential com-
panion to the legal requirement that owners and drivers be financially
responsible to third parties for injuries or damages caused by such
owners or drivers.

Thus, the substance of the bill is unrelated to the basic reason
for the existence of the Plan. Nevertheless, I would not veto the bill
solely for this reason, nor am I necessarily opposed to the concept of
the bill.

My concern is that the bill involves a radical departure from a
solidly established policy—a departure that no other state has made—
which should not be undertaken without thorough consideration of
its ultimate effect and ramifications by an agency such as the Legis-
lative Council. This is particularly important when there is no
experience of other states on which to base a judgment.

Such consideration should involve consultation with agencies
and groups involved in the Automobile Insurance Plan, particularly
those responsible for administering the Plan. I would hope, addi-
tionally, that in any bill developed sufficient lead time would be pro-
vided to allow the complete formulation of procedures for its admini-
stration. There is some question about whether the administrators
of the Plan could implement the present bill by the time of its
effective date.

In view of these considerations, I feel that I must veto the
bill at this time.

Sincerely yours,

(s) Spiro T. Agnew,

Governor.

Read and journalized.

House Bill No. 213—By Delegates Hoffman and Santangelo.

AN ACT to repeal and re-enact, with amendments, Section 243
(n) (2) of Article 48A of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1964
Replacement Volume and 1966 Supplement), title "Insurance Code,"
subtitle "16. Rates and Rating Organizations," to require insurance
companies writing only automobile physical damage insurance to
provide insurance in the State under the Maryland Automobile
Insurance Plan for equitable apportionment of insurance risks and to

change the description of other companies subject to the Plan; and

correcting an error therein BROADEN THE MARYLAND AUTO-
MOBILE INSURANCE PLAN TO MAKE ADDITIONAL KINDS
OF AUTOMOBILE INSURANCE AVAILABLE TO PERSONS
USING THE PLAN.

Shall the bill pass notwithstanding the objections of the Executive?