Marvin Mandel, Governor                        1909

Triplett. If this bill is signed into law by you, declaratory judgment
action could be brought in a court of competent jurisdiction at which
evidence supporting and opposing the action of the General Assembly
in making this classification could be presented.

The Consumer Protection Division of this office is charged by
statute with the responsibility of educating the public with respect
to consumer matters and, in addition, to report periodically to the
public on consumer problems "generally from the standpoint of value
received by the consumer"; Article 83, Section 23 of the Maryland
Code. We would like to bring to your attention our experience in the
field covered by this legislation. The trend throughout the country in
recent years has been the elimination of the holder-in-due-course
doctrine in all consumer transactions. This, in fact, has been done
in Maryland with respect to retail installment sales (Article 83, Sec-
tion 147) and retail credit accounts [Article 83, Section 153D(f)].
Historically, the doctrine was never intended to apply to consumer
transactions but was limited entirely to arms' length transactions
between knowledgeable and sophisticated businessmen. From a con-
sumer point of view we think that it would be most desirable if the
next session of the General Assembly made an effort to completely
eliminate the holder-in-due-course doctrine with respect to all con-
sumer transactions. Unfortunately, under the law presently before
you a real possibility of consumer confusion exists, as well as serious
problems with respect to administration.

Very truly yours,

/s/ Francis B. Burch,

Attorney General.

House Bill No. 285—Correctional Training Commission

AN ACT to add new Section 70B to Article 41 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1965 Replacement Volume, 1970 Supplement),
title "Governor—Executive and Administrative Departments," sub-
title "1. The Executive Department," to follow immediately after
Section 70A thereof, and to be under the new subheading "Correc-
tional Training Commission," to establish a Correctional Training
Commission, to provide for its membership and to prescribe its
functions and duties.

May 28, 1971.

Honorable Thomas Hunter Lowe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17, of the Maryland Con-
stitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 285.

This bill establishes a Correctional Training Commission in the
Executive Branch of the Government, and provides for its member-
ship function and duties. It is a virtual duplicate of Senate Bill 179,