Marvin Mandel, Governor                       1969

The only conditions provided in the present law for eligibility
is that the child be handicapped, that his parents be Maryland resi-
dents, that there be no public school program for the child, and
that he be attending an approved non-public school. The amount
of reimbursement is either the actual cost of the approved non-
public education or $1,000, whichever is less. The present law goes
on to provide that if the cost exceeds $1,000 and if there are funds
available in the State budget to pay the excess cost, to the extent
of such available funds the entire cost can be paid. House Bill 738
amends the present law by allowing the State Board of Education
to limit both eligibility for and the amount of reimbursement over
the sum of $1,000.

There are, at present, at least three study groups reviewing
different aspects of existing problems and programs in the area of
special education; and preliminary indications lead me to conclude
that one result of these studies will be recommendations for im-
provements in the public education of handicapped children. It would
certainly seem that, subject to available resources, there should be
adequate public programs for as many handicapped children as pos-
sible.

Until such programs are developed and in operation, however,
the State must do what it can to see that these children are edu-
cated; and in many cases, it may be impossible for handicapped
children to receive an adequate education without full cost reim-
bursement. The "excess cost" reimbursement program has been in
existence and funded in its present form since 1969, and in nearly
every year since then, the Department of Education has failed to
utilize all of the funds appropriated for the program but has re-
verted a considerable part of them. There does not appear, there-
fore, to be such an excess of demand for these funds as would justify
further restrictions in the eligibility of parents to receive them, or
in the amount they may receive. If and when additional public
programs are established, it may well be necessary or desirable to
limit the funds appropriated for non-public education and shift
them to the public programs; but in light of the problems which
I understand to exist, I believe it is premature to curtail the reim-
bursement program at this time.

For these reasons, I have decided to veto House Bill 738.

Sincerely,

/s/ Marvin Mandel,

Governor.

House Bill No. 764—Tax Exemption for Towson Presbyterian

Church

AN ACT to add new subsection SECTION 9(18B) to Article
81 of the Annotated Code of Maryland (1969 Replacement Volume
and 1971 Supplement), title "Revenue and Taxes," subtitle "What
Shall be Taxed and Where," to follow immediately after subsection
SECTION 9(18A) thereof, to provide an exemption from State and
local assessment and LOCAL taxation for the real property owned
by the Towson Presbyterian Church known as the "Beetree Retreat