S.B. 403

VETOES

(b)     (1) A care giver, a parent or other person who has permanent or temporary
care or responsibility for the supervision of a vulnerable adult, or any household member
or family member, who causes abuse or neglect of a vulnerable adult is guilty of a
misdemeanor and on conviction is subject to a fine not exceeding $5,000 or imprisonment
for not more than 5 years, or both.

(2) A sentence imposed under this section shall be in addition to any other
sentence imposed for a criminal conviction arising from the same facts and circumstances
unless the evidence required to prove each offense is substantially identical.

(c)     If a person reports to a State or local agency that an adult has been or is
currently subjected to abuse or neglect, an investigation shall be conducted in accordance
with:

(1)     § 7-1005 of the Health - General Article if the adult is an individual
with a developmental disability as defined in § 7-101 of the Health - General Article;

(2)     § 10-705 of the Health - General Article if the adult is an individual in
a facility as defined in § 10-101 of the Health - General Article;

(3)     § 19-346 or § 19-347 of the Health - General Article if the adult is a
resident of a related institution as defined in § 19-301 of the Health - General Article;
and

(4)     § 14-301 through § 14-309 of the Family Law Article if the adult does
not meet the criteria of paragraphs (1), (2), or (3) of this subsection.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED,' That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1995.

May 24, 1995

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 403.

This bill alters current law regarding bad checks by providing that writing a check on a
closed or nonexistent account is subject to the same penalties as other bad check offenses.
The bill also changes the threshold for a felony bad check charge to a cumulative amount
over $300 to the same payee instead of one check over $300, and makes evidentiary
changes in prosecuting persons charged with passing bad checks.

House Bill 1050, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on May 9,
1995, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign Senate
Bill 403.

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