HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3349

This legislation would expand the responsibility of the
Director of Mental Retardation and Developmental
Disabilities for implementing Individual Plans of
Habilitation from those individuals in or admitted to a
State residential facility operated or licensed by the
Administration, to those persons in or admitted to any
facility operated or licensed by the Administration.

Currently, funding for the cost of residents in State
facilities is borne by the State while funding for
individuals in non-state facilities is borne by voluntary
contributions of $1.2 million and local funds of $1.8
million.

The effect of this bill would be to shift the financial
burden of the cost of habilitation services from the present
joint efforts among State, local and volunteer contributions
to one funded solely by the State. Furthermore, I am
fearful that enactment of Senate Bill 335 would be
interpreted as obviating the need for these other funding
sources thereby increasing the total fiscal impact on the
State to $6.4 million in the first year.

I support the concept of individual habilitation plan
development, but because of the potential loss of $3.2
million in current local and contributory funding and the
exclusive burden imposed on the State by this legislation of
$6.4 million given the fiscal position of the State, I have
decided to veto Senate Bill 335.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

Senate Bill No. 342

AN ACT concerning

Creation of a State Debt - Lyric Theater

FOR the purpose of authorizing the creation of a State Debt
in the amount of $3,000,000 $1,500,000 $1,000,000, the
proceeds to be used as a grant to the Lyric Foundation,
Inc. to assist the Lyric Foundation, Inc. in the
continuation of the modernization of the Lyric Theater,
subject to the requirement that the Lyric Foundation,
Inc. provide up to a certain matching fund for the same
purpose by certain dates; providing that guaranteed
loans shall be considered as part of the required