H.B. 1554                                                VETOES

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed House Bill 1554.

This bill would require local regulations governing the subdivision of land to provide for
an appropriate right-of-way for any burial site to allow access by heirs, appointed
representatives, or other "persons in interest." Any person in interest who requests
reasonable access to a burial site on private land for the purpose • of restoring,
maintaining, or viewing the site may obtain a permission agreement from the site's owner
in which the person accepts liability for their person and property while on owner's
property.

Senate Bill 763, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on May 2,
1994, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign House
Bill 1554.

Sincerely,

William Donald Schaefer

Governor

House Bill No. 1554

AN ACT concerning

Access to Burial Sites

FOR the purpose of authorizing certain persons who have a certain interest in a burial
site to request access to the burial site from the owner of the burial site or of
property on which the burial site is located for certain purposes; authorizing certain
persons requesting access to a burial site under certain circumstances to use a
certain form to execute a certain agreement with the owner of the burial site; specifying
that an owner of a burial site or of property on which a burial site is located and
persons granted access to the burial site are subject to certain duties and liabilities
is not liable for certain damages except under certain circumstances; specifying that
certain regulations governing the subdivision of land must contain provisions related
to access to burial sites; authorizing certain persons to report the location of a burial
site to the supervisor of assessments for the county where the burial site is located;
specifying that the supervisor of assessments may note the location of the burial site
on certain tax maps; providing for the construction of certain provisions of this Act;
specifying the intent of this Act; defining certain terms; and generally relating to
obtaining access to burial sites for certain purposes.

BY adding to

Article 66B - Zoning and Planning

Section 5.03(e)

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1988 Replacement Volume and 1993 Supplement)

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,

- 4008 -