BLAIR LEE III, Acting Governor                        3219

May 29, 1978
Honorable John Hanson Briscoe
Speaker of the House of Delegates
State House
Annapolis, Maryland 21404

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the
Maryland Constitution, I have today vetoed House Bill 1264.

This bill requires the Secretary of Health and Mental
Hygiene to determine the need, if any, for community
residences for mentally ill persons in each county.

This bill as originally introduced would have
facilitated the use of community residences to serve the
mentally ill and thereby alleviate overcrowding in State
mental hospitals. However, because of extensive amendments
placed on the bill, the bill is no longer in accordance with
its original intent. Rather, in very ambiguous terms, the
bill now provides, inter alia, that the Secretary may choose
sites and contract with other groups to run facilities on
the sites, but only if the location is "as provided in
county and municipal zoning ordinances."

I believe that the effect of this bill will be to
restrict, rather than to facilitate, the development of
these community residences. Its very laudable purpose can
be achieved by appropriate legislation in 1979.

For these reasons, and at the request of the Secretary
of Health and Mental Hygiene, the Legal Aid Bureau, the
Mental Health Association of Maryland, and the Mental Health
Association of Metropolitan Baltimore, I have decided to
veto House Bill 1264.

Sincerely,
Blair Lee III
Acting Governor

House Bill No. 1319 - Income Tax — Itemized
Deductions

AN ACT concerning

Income Tax

— Itemized Deductions