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H.B. 405
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VETOES
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SECTION 4. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 2005.
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May 20, 2005
The Honorable Michael E. Busch
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dear Mr. Speaker:
In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, today I have
vetoed House Bill 405 - Department of Juvenile Services - Youth Service Bureaus -
Predelinquent Diversion Services.
House Bill 405 requires one member of the State Advisory Board for the Department
of Juvenile Services to be a representative of a Youth Services Bureau (YSB); the
Department to promote greater utilization of YSBs and encourage local governments
to use services provided by YSBs; and that the Department provide technical
assistance to YSBs to identify alternative funding sources. While my Administration
recognizes and appreciates the fine work done by YSBs since the 1970s, individual
Bureaus exist in only seven counties and only one Bureau serves the Tri-County area
of Southern Maryland.
My Administration has made programmatic and budgetary commitments for services
designed to divert youth from the juvenile justice system, and I believe this
legislation places the sole focus for such diversion efforts at the local level on YSBs to
the exclusion and detriment of similar effective programs operating in local
jurisdictions through service providers other than YSBs.
I also recognize and value the wide range of diversion services offered in the
remaining 14 subdivisions through systems other than YSBs. In my view, it is unfair
to those jurisdictions if YSBs are singled out for a position on the State Advisory
Board. There is already a provision for seven individuals from the general public to
serve on the State Advisory Board, and every effort is made to ensure the widest
possible representation of interests and views. Likewise, the provisions of House Bill
405 that direct greater utilization of YSBs and State encouragement for local
governments to use YSBs may be inconsistent with a subdivision's decision to provide
diversion services through a different system. Additionally, it must be remembered
that YSBs are vendors for programs funded through State appropriations. The State
should avoid taking any action that might appear to favor one vendor over any other
in connection with determining the most effective and efficient use of State funds.
The Department of Juvenile Services and its State Advisory Board will continue to
assess existing diversion programs and work to develop new or improved prevention
and intervention efforts that will help at-risk youths to avoid the juvenile justice
system. I encourage the General Assembly to assist in these efforts through its
designated members on the State Advisory Board.
For the above stated reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 405.
- 4070 -
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