HARRY HUGHES, Governor

3527

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

4-503.

(a) (1) If a petition is filed under this subtitle and
the court determines that the petitioner has demonstrated an
abuse of a household member, the court may enter a temporary
ex parte order to protect the petitioner or another
household member from abuse. The order shall be served
immediately by a law enforcement officer on the household
member named in the petition, and that household member
shall have an opportunity to be heard on the question of
continuing the temporary order. Notice of the date of the
hearing shall be contained in the order, and this hearing
shall be held not later than 5 days after the temporary
order is entered.

(2) IF THE HOUSEHOLD MEMBER NAMED IN THE
PETITION IS SERVED A TEMPORARY EX PARTE ORDER UNDER
SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION AND FAILS TO APPEAR FOR A
HEARING ON THE QUESTION OF CONTINUING THE TEMPORARY ORDER,
THE TEMPORARY ORDER MAY BE CONTINUED FOR UP TO 15 DAYS.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act
shall take effect July 1, 1981.

May 19, 1981
The Honorable Benjamin L. Cardin
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, today I have vetoed House Bill 486.

This bill would permit the District Court or a circuit
court in Maryland to continue or extend temporary ex parte
orders for up to 15 days with respect to domestic violence
cases if the person named in the petition fails to appear
for a hearing.

The Attorney General has advised me that the title of
this bill is defective and misleading and fails to meet the
requirements of Article III, Section 29 of the Maryland
Constitution. A copy of the Opinion of the Attorney General
is attached and should be considered a part of this veto
message.

For this reason I have decided to veto House Bill 486.

Sincerely,