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WILLIAM DONALD SCHAEFER, Governor S.B. 722
(II) THE RELEVANCE OF THE ADVANCED TECHNOLOGY TO THE
CONTENT FOR PURPOSES OF IMPROVING BOTH THE EDUCATIONAL SYSTEM AND
THE STATE'S ECONOMIC COMPETITIVENESS.
SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That it is the intent of the
General Assembly that funding for the provisions of this Act shall be provided solely
from:
(1) Contributions from sources other than the State, including but not
limited to federal grants, business and industry, local government, associations, and
individuals; and
(2) Specifically identified discretionary amounts in the Governor's budget,
other than any increase to the current expense formula.
SECTION 2. 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take
effect October 1, 1994.
May 26, 1994
The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis, MD 21401
Dear Mr. President:
In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed Senate Bill 722.
Senate Bill 722 would require the State to provide, beginning in FY 1996, a $500 grant to
each community college in the State for each full-time equivalent student who is enrolled
in the community college and enrolled in a county English for Speakers of Other
Languages (ESOL) program. The bill specifies that the total grant for any given fiscal
year may not exceed $1 million.
This bill would increase State aid to community colleges by $688,000 in Fiscal Year 1996.
Eighty-seven percent (87%) of this money will go to three community college boards —
Montgomery, Howard and Baltimore County. In addition, under this legislation, only
those colleges eligible to receive State support under the funding formula are eligible for
the ESOL grant. As a result, Baltimore City Community College, which has the second
largest ESOL Program in the State, would not be eligible for this grant. At a time when
the entire community college segment has been experiencing a decline in the State's share
of support for college operating expenses, I feel that this measure will result in
inequitable treatment among schools.
The community colleges in this State provide an invaluable and often unheralded service
to the State by offering quality academic and career training programs to Maryland
citizens at affordable tuition rates. Because of unique opportunities that these institutions
provide to their students, I have been and continue to be supportive of community college
programs. My Fiscal Year 1995 budget included an additional $3 million for community
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