ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                            S.B. 588

Awards to students who otherwise meet the requirements for receiving an
Educational Excellence Award but who apply after the March 1 deadline or have
other extenuating circumstances.

(II) AT LEAST $3 MILLION OF THE TOTAL FUNDS APPROPRIATED
FOR EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE GRANTS SHALL BE ALLOCATED TO INSTITUTIONS
OF HIGHER EDUCATION IN THE STATE TO PROVIDE EDUCATIONAL EXCELLENCE
AWARDS IN ACCORDANCE WITH THIS SUBSECTION EACH YEAR THE COMMISSION
SHALL TRANSFER AT LEAST $2 MILLION OF THE FUNDS AVAILABLE UNDER §
18-107(B) OF THIS SUBTITLE FOR THE PURPOSES OF THIS SUBSECTION.

(2)     The Commission shall:

(i) Establish guidelines for the awarding of Educational Excellence
Awards by the institutions of higher education to the students; and

(ii) Adopt regulations necessary for the implementation of this
subsection.

(3)     (i) The Commission shall allocate available funds to institutions of
higher education based on the proportion of State residents enrolled at each
institution who receive federal Pell Grants.

(ii) An institution of higher education that receives funds under
this paragraph shall provide the Commission with an annual audit describing the
disposition of the funds.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
October July 1, 2003.

May 21, 2003

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, today I have
vetoed Senate Bill 588 - State Board of Examiners for Audiologists, Hearing Aid
Dispensers, and Speech-Language Pathologists - Membership.

Senate Bill 588 reduces the membership of the State Board of Examiners for
Audiologists, Hearing Aid Dispensers, and Speech-Language Pathologists from 13 to
11 members by eliminating the two physician members as of October 1, 2003.

The current Board consists of 13 members from multiple disciplines and
backgrounds: three licensed audiologists; three speech-language pathologists; two
state-licensed physicians certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology; two
consumer members, one of whom must be hearing impaired; and, three licensed
hearing aid dispensers.

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