WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor

PARTIES IN AN EFFORT TO DISCHARGE A DUTY ARISING UNDER THIS
SECTION ACCORDING TO THE PROVISIONS OF SUBSECTION (B) (C) OF THIS
SECTION.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
be construed only prospectively and may not be applied or
interpreted to have any effect upon or application to any cause
of action arising prior to the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall
take effect July 1, 1989.

May 25, 1989

The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.

President of the Senate

State House

Annapolis, Maryland 21401

Dear Mr. President:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland
Constitution, I have today vetoed Senate Bill 75.

This bill abolishes the death penalty for the mentally retarded.

House Bill 675, which was passed by the General Assembly and
signed by me on May 25, 1989, accomplishes the same purpose.
Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign Senate Bill 75.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

Senate Bill No. 75

AN ACT concerning

Death Penalty - Mentally Retarded

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person found guilty of murder in
the first degree from being sentenced to death if the person
is found to have been establishes by a preponderance of the
evidence that the person was mentally retarded at the time

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