HARRY HUGHES, Governor                                     3859

May 28, 1985
The Honorable Melvin A. Steinberg
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 549.

This bill provides that in a criminal trial the age of a
child may not be the reason for precluding a child from
testifying.

House Bill 1343, which was passed by the General Assembly -
and signed by me on May 28, 1985, accomplishes the same purpose.
Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign Senate Bill 549.

Sincerely,
Harry Hughes
Governor

Senate Bill No. 549

AN ACT concerning

Child Abuse-- Competency of a Child Victim to Testify

FOR the purpose of providing that in a case of alleged child
abuse certain crimes against children the age or mental
capacity of a child victim who is a minor may not preclude
the child victim from testifying.

FOR the purpose of providing that in a criminal trial the age of
a child may not be the reason for precluding a child from
testifying.

BY adding to

Article - Courts and Judicial Proceedings

Section 9-102

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1984 Replacement Volume and 1984 Supplement)