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MARVIN MANDEL, Governor
4035
Horses — Infectious Equine Anemia Testing
FOR the purpose of requiring horses or equines to [[have
a certain test]] undergo certain testing before
being allowed to be shipped into Maryland, and
requiring these horses or equines to be accompanied
by a certificate which verifies that the testing was
performed in a certain laboratory and which displays
certain information with regard to this test and the
animals involved.
May 15, 1975.
Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland
Dear Mr. Speaker:
In accordance with Article II, Section 17, of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill
1077.
This bill provides that a horse or equine may not be
shipped into this State unless it has had a negative test
as prescribed by the Secretary of Agriculture within six
months prior to shipment.
As introduced, the bill specified that the test to
be administered was the "Coggins Test". During the
legislative process, however, this provision was deleted
from the bill, and as enacted provides only that the
animal must have "a negative test as prescribed by the
State Department of Agriculture." While the title of the
bill indicates that its purpose is to require infectious
equine anemia testing, the legislative intent is unclear
from the substantive provisions of the bill. As the
Secretary of Agriculture presently has the power under §
3—105 of the Agriculture Article of the Code to "test any
animal for any contagious disease by any method", the
purpose of House Bill 1077 may be accomplished under
existing procedures.
The Secretary of Agriculture informs me that he is
presently adopting regulations which will require the
testing of horses entering Maryland on a 12 month basis.
In order to evaluate the development of this program, the
Secretary has requested that I veto House Bill 1077 which
mandates a six month test requirement. A copy of the
Secretary's letter is attached to and should be
considered a part of this veto message.
For the reasons contained in the Secretary's letter
and the unclarity created in the substantive provisions
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