S.B. 655                                                  VETOES

possession of the rental vehicle at the time the parking citation was issued, the
political subdivision or State agency shall reimburse the owner of the vehicle for the
amount paid by the owner for the violation.

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

May 22, 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 655 - Real Property - Redemption of Ground Rents.

This bill authorizes a process for the redemption of ground rents including allowing a
tenant to apply to redeem a ground rent if the landlord does not respond to notice by
paying the redemption amount into a fund held by the State Department of
Assessments and Taxation.

House Bill 1030, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me,
accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign Senate
Bill 655.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

Senate Bill No. 655

AN ACT concerning

Real Property - Redemption of Ground Rents

FOR the purpose of authorizing a tenant to apply to redeem a reversion reserved in
certain leases under certain circumstances by providing certain documentation
and paying the redemption amount amount, certain back rents, if required, and
certain fees to the State Department of Assessments and Taxation; requiring the
Department to issue post a certain notice on its website for a certain period of
time before issuing a certain certificate to the tenant; establishing that the
redemption is effective when the certificate is recorded in the land records of the
county where the property is located; providing that recordation of the
certificate conclusively vests a certain fee simple title in the tenant; authorizing
the landlord to collect the redemption amount without interest by filing a claim,
providing certain documentation documentation, and paying certain fees to the
Department; providing a procedure for resolving certain disputes over the
amount of payment of a certain redemption; limiting the liability of the

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