May 27, 1999

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 763.

This bill clarifies that workers' compensation benefits for covered employees, or their
dependents, of a governmental unit or quasi-public corporation should be offset only
for payment of "similar" disability retirement benefits.

Senate Bill 314, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on May
13, 1999, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign
House Bill 763.

Sincerely,

Parris N. Glendening
Governor

House Bill 763

AN ACT concerning

Workers' Compensation - Offset of Benefits

FOR the purpose of clarifying that certain workers' compensation benefits should be
offset only for a payment of certain disability retirement benefits; and generally
relating to the offset of workers' compensation benefits.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Labor and Employment
Section 9-610(a)
Annotated Code of Maryland
(1991 Volume and 1998 Supplement)

Preamble

WHEREAS, In 1988, the Court of Appeals held in the Newman v. Subsequent
Injury Fund case that a proper interpretation of the phrase "similar benefit"
contained in Article 101, § 33(d) of the Code was that a workers' compensation award
to a government employee could not be offset by the employee's length of service
retirement benefits; and

WHEREAS, The application of the law as set forth by the Court of Appeals in
the Newman v. Subsequent Injury Fund case has been consistent until recent case
law;- and