S.B. 254                                                   VETOES

with these practices. They are quite willing to provide their own recommendations for
reform of the practices of the Legislative Auditor, and in many cases have already done
so.

As I indicated above, my concern with Senate Bill 254 is that it represents a piecemeal
approach to the recommendations for reforming the Office of Legislative Auditor. To
take just one recommendation without adopting the other changes would threaten the
checks and balances of the overall evaluation. Because the budget does not reflect any
decrease in authorized positions in the Office due to the reduced workload which should
result from Senate Bill 254, I am also concerned that switching to a four year schedule for
selected audits would simply allow the Office to assign additional auditors to selected
agencies. However, there is no evidence suggesting that current audit-staffing assignments
to the agencies are inadequate. The extra staffing would have the effect only of further
hindering the agencies' ability to meet their responsibilities to the people of this State.

While I commend the General Assembly for considering the issue of privatizing the
Office, I do. not feel that enough has been done to pursue this option. Nor do I feel that
the long-standing complaints of the Executive Branch agencies with regard to the Office
have been adequately considered. Further, this one change, taken without regard to the
other recommendations for reform, could be used by the Office to exacerbate an already
problematic situation.

For these reasons, I have today vetoed Senate Bill 254.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

Senate Bill No. 254

AN ACT concerning

Legislative Auditor - Audits of State Units

FOR the purpose of altering the minimum frequency with which the Office of Legislative
Audits is required to audit each unit of State government; and requiring the Office
to take certain factors into account in determining the audit schedule for. a unit.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - State Government
Section 2-1215(a)(2)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1984 Volume and 1992 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - State Government

2-1215.                                                                                           

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