HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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FOR the purpose of requiring the Department of Corrections
in cooperation with the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty
of Maryland to establish standards for health care in
State correctional and reformatory institutions;
requiring the Department in cooperation with the
Faculty to make regular inspections of these
institutions to determine if the standards are being
met; and requiring the Department in cooperation with
the Faculty to make reports of the inspections to
certain parties.

May 29, 1979
Honorable James Clark, Jr.
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 342.

This bill requires the Department of Corrections, in
cooperation with the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of
Maryland, to establish health care standards for State
correctional institutions and to inspect and report on those
inspections.

The Department of Health and Mental Hygiene presently
has this authority and regulations regarding health care
standards for State correctional institutions are now in
effect. The approval of this bill would, inter alia, impose
upon a private organization, the duty to perform a service
which is clearly within the competence, capability and
responsibility of State agencies. To the extent that the
Department of Health and Mental Hygiene should ever require
the assistance of the Medical and Chirurgical Faculty of
Maryland, I am confident that such assistance can be secured
absent legislative mandate.

For these reasons, I have decided to veto Senate Bill 342.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

Senate Bill No. 367