MARVIN MANDEL, Governor

2809

the State Athletic Commission from certain license
fees shall be distributed in a certain manner; and
clarifying language.

May 24, 1976.
Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
Stare House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Sill
526.

This bill amends Section 114 of Article 56 to
provide that all monies collected by the State Athletic
Commission as license fees from the gross receipts from
boxing and wrestling matches be credited to a special
fund and paid out by the State Treasurer upon requisition
of the Commission. However, at the end of the fiscal
year, any unexpended funds revert to the general fund and
are to be distributed to the subdivisions on a pro rata
basis. The bill is effective June 1, 1976.

A related bill, House Bill 527, was also enacted by
the General Assembly. It amends Section 112 of Article
of Article 56 in order to license the promoters of these
same events at closed circuit showings. However, an
amendment to the bill provides that all monies collected
from fees on gross receipts from these events are general
fund revenues. The bill is effective July 1, 1976.

House Bills 526 and 527 are inconsistent because of
the amendment made to the latter bill. House Bill 526,
affective June 1, 1976, would return to the subdivisions
the unexpended money collected as license fees from these
events. But House Bill 527, effective July 1, 1976, as a
result of the amendment to the bill, provides that this
same money is general fund revenue. The effect of
signing both bills is that the local subdivision
distribution provision of House Bill 526 would operate on
a one-time basis with respect to funds on hand at the
close of the fiscal year on June 30, 1976. Thereafter,
the provision of House Bill 527 would prevail because it
bears the later effective date of July 1, 1976.

The amendment to House Bill 527 creates considerable
confusion as to the disposition of all monies collected
under the subtitle dealing with boxing and wrestling
events, particularly when read in conjunction with House
Bill 526.

I have no problem with legislation designed to