MARVIN MANDEL, Governor                        2785

AN ACT concerning

Prince George's County - School Board Districts

FOR the purpose of altering the election districts for
the School Board Districts of Prince George's
County; and clarifying language.

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

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17, of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed Senate Bill
863.

This bill alters the boundaries of the School Board
Election Districts of Prince George's County.

While the Attorney General has approved Senate Bill
863 for constitutionality, he has also indicated to me
several practical difficulties with the bill as finally
enacted. These matters were brought to the attention of
the Attorney General by the State Administrative Board of
Election Laws.

To state the situation as briefly as possible, the
amendments made to Section 36C (a) (1) of Article 77 by
Senate Bill 863 of 1976, when read together with the
present law and with the amendments made to the same
Section by Chapter 155 of the Acts of 1975, generate
considerable confusion as to the proper configuration of
some of the school board district boundaries. The
Attorney General has gone into some detail in explaining
the apparent inconsistencies between seme of the boundary
lines as set forth in Article 77 and as indicated on the
map which sets forth the school board districts. The
fault lies not only with the provisions of Senate Bill
363, but also with the description contained in the
present law.

The signing of Senate Bill 863, in one instance,
will compound the problem of Section 36C (a) (1). With
respect to a small part of Election District 17, the
signing of Senate Bill 863 will result in that small area
being included in both School Board District II and
School Board District III. A copy of the Opinion of the
Attorney General and a copy of the map of these districts
is attached to and should be considered a part of this
veto message.