H.B. 50

VETOES

(A) A PROSECUTION FOR MURDER OR MANSLAUGHTER, WHETHER AT
COMMON LAW OR UNDER ARTICLE 27, §§ 407 THROUGH 411, § 387, § 388, OR § 388A,
MAY BE INSTITUTED REGARDLESS OF THE TIME ELAPSED BETWEEN THE
INFLICTION OF THE FATAL INJURY ACT OR OMISSION CAUSING THE DEATH OF THE
VICTIM AND THE DEATH OF THE VICTIM

(B) IN ANY PROSECUTION FOR MURDER OR MANSLAUGHTER, AS DESCRIBED
IN SUBSECTION (A) OF THIS SECTION, THE STATE MUST PROVE BEYOND A
REASONABLE DOUBT THAT THE DEATH OF THE VICTIM WAS A DIRECT RESULT OF
THE INJURY INFLICTED BY THE ACCUSED.

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 on or
application to any offenses that were committed before the effective date of this Act.

SECTION 3. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October 1, 1996.

May 23, 1996

The Honorable Casper R. Taylor, Jr.
Speaker of the House
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

Dear Mr. Speaker:

In accordance with Article II, Section 17 of the Maryland Constitution, I have today
vetoed House Bill 50.

This bill allows a local elections board to appoint a person who has no affiliation with a
political party to serve as an election judge if the board could not find a judge and
specifies the circumstances under which such judges may be appointed. This bill also
makes certain technical changes by specifying that an individual who declines to affiliate
with any political party may not be appointed as chief judge and specifies that in order to
be appointed chief judge a person must belong to the majority party or principal minority
party.

Senate Bill 139, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on April 30,
1996, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign House
Bill 50.

Sincerely,

Parris N. Glendening

Governor

House Bill No. 50

AN ACT concerning

Election Judges - Appointment Laws - Judges of Elections - Declines

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