Marvin Mandel, Governor                         1935

VETOES

TITLES AND MESSAGES

Senate Bill No. 44—Landlord and Tenant

AN ACT to add new Section 44 47 to Article 53 of the Annotated
Code of Maryland (1968 Replacement Volume and 1971 Supplement
1972 REPLACEMENT VOLUME), title "Landlord and Tenant,"
subtitle "Tenants' Deposits," to follow immediately after Section
45 46 thereof, to be under the new subtitle "Tenant Protections," to
provide for certain protections for tenants in their negotiation of
contracts with landlords, FOR AN EXCEPTION THERETO, and in
the provisions of such contracts.

May 31, 1972

Honorable William S. James
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17, of the Maryland Con-
stitution, I have today vetoed Senate Bill 44.

This bill provides for certain protection for tenants in their
negotiation of leases with landlords.

The Attorney General has advised me that Senate Bill 44 and
House Bill 992, which was enacted by the General Assembly and
signed by me on May 31, 1972, are inconsistent. Senate Bill 44 pro-
vides that the question of the payment of interest on security de-
posits is a matter of negotiation between landlord and tenant, whereas
House Bill 992 mandates in all cases (where the tenant's security
deposit is $50.00 or more) the payment of interest by the landlord
to the tenant. House Bill 992 would take effect July 1, 1972, while
Senate Bill 44 would take effect January 1, 1973. Since Senate Bill
44 has a later effective date, it is very likely that its provision relating
to security deposits would prevail over House Bill 992 and make
House Bill 992 a nullity. Although I am in accord with the under-
lying purpose of Senate Bill 44 to protect tenants in their negotia-
tions of leases with landlords, I believe that such remedial legislation
can be proposed at the next session of the General Assembly, which
begins shortly after the date that Senate Bill 44 would have become
effective.

Consequently, I am vetoing Senate Bill 44.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marvin Mandel,

Governor.