2740

VETOES

Senate Bill No. 39 — People's Counsel, Public Service

Commission

AN ACT concerning

Public Service Commission — People's Counsel

FOR the purpose of making the People's Counsel of the
Public Service Commission a full—time employee of
the State.

May 17, 1976.
Honorable Steny H. Hoyer
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article IX, Section 17, of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed Senate Bill
39.

This bill requires that the People's Counsel to the
Public Service Commission shall devote full time to his
official duties and may not engage in the private
practice of law.

House Bill 1361, which was enacted by the General
Assembly and signed by me on May 17, 1976, generally
restructures the present Public Service Commission and
the duties of many of its personnel. In doing so, it
requires that the People's Counsel serve full time.
Although House Bill 1361 does not contain a general
prohibition on the private practice of law by the
People's Counsel, it does delineate certain specific
activities which are forbidden to all Commission
personnel, including any activity or avocation which is
incompatible with the duties of the office or the
employment by the Commission.

Thus, the intention of the General Assembly with
respect to the full time nature of the position of
People's Counsel is obviously accomplished in House Bill
1361, and it is unnecessary for me to sign Senate Bill
39.

Sincerely,