May 27, 1999

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 618.

This bill prohibits an insurer, nonprofit health service plan or health maintenance
organization from establishing or promoting an emergency medical transportation
system that competes with Maryland's 911 system.

House Bill 767, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on April
27, 1999, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign
Senate Bill 618.

Sincerely,

Parris N. Glendening
Governor

Senate Bill 618

AN ACT concerning

Health Insurance - Access to the 911 Emergency Telephone System

FOR the purpose of prohibiting certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and
health maintenance organizations from establishing or promoting a certain
emergency system in competition with or substitution of the 911 emergency
telephone system or certain other emergency medical services systems;
authorizing certain insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health
maintenance organizations to use transportation other than the 911 system
under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain insurers, nonprofit health
service plans, and health maintenance organizations from requiring insureds
and enrollees to obtain prior authorization before accessing certain emergency
medical services systems under certain circumstances; prohibiting certain
insurers, nonprofit health service plans, and health maintenance organizations
from using false or misleading language in certain materials provided to
insureds and enrollees to discourage or prohibit access to the 911 system;
defining a certain term; and generally relating to access to the 911 emergency
telephone system by insureds and enrollees.

BY adding to

Article - Insurance

Section 15-126

Annotated Code of Maryland

(1997 Volume and 1998 Supplement)