HARRY HUGHES, Governor

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2.  On April 2, 1985, it was reported favorably by the
Finance Committee with two amendments. On April 3, 1985, the
Committee amendments and favorable report were adopted.

3.  Senator Yeager offered one amendment from the House.
The amendment was adopted on April 3, 1985.

4.   The bill passed the Senate on third reading on April 4,
1985.

5.  On April 6, 1985, the House refused to concur in the
Senate Amendments and requested the Senate recede. The Senate
did not recede and a Conference Committee was appointed. The
House appointed Delegates Devlin, Koch and Smith. The Senate
appointed Senators O'Reilly, Bromwell and Denis.

6.  On April 18, 1985, the Conference Committee Report was
adopted by the House and the bill was passed on third reading.

7.   On April 18, 1985, the Conference Committee Report was
adopted by the Senate and the bill was passed on third reading.

From this journal chronology, it is clear that the bill was
validly enacted by the General Assembly. See Art. III, Section
27, Md. Const. Compare 1981 House Bill 1522. */ Thus, the bill
may be printed and presented to the Governor. The only remaining
question is how should the bill read so as to give full effect to
the intent of the General Assembly?

The bill as passed by the House would have amended §
9-913(h)(2) of the State Government Article to read: "WITH EACH
PLOT, THE [MARYLAND VETERANS] COMMISSION SHALL PROVIDE, WITHOUT
CHARGE, A GRAVE LINER." The first Senate Finance Committee
amendment was to the title of the bill. The second amendment of
the Committee inserted after "LINER" the phrase "NOT TO EXCEED
$50 IN COST." The Yeager amendment added after "COST" the phrase
"PLUS AN ANNUAL INCREASE OF NO MORE THAN 5 PERCENT TO ALLOW FOR
INFLATION."

The Conference Committee Report on House Bill 949 reads as
follows:

"(1) That Amendment No. 1 by the Senate Finance
Committee be adopted.

(2)  That Senator Yeager's amendment be adopted.

(3)  That Amendment No. 2 by the Senate Finance
Committee be rejected, and on page 2 of the bill, in line 2,
after "LINER" insert "NOT TO EXCEED $55 IN COST."

The understanding and intention of the legislators determine
the meaning of their enactments. Mayor and City Council of
Baltimore v. Perrin, 178 Md. 101 (1940). Thus, the cardinal rule