ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor

S.B. 4

May 26, 2004

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 4 - Regulation and Acquisition of Nonprofit Health Entities.

This bill extends the statute of limitations to 3 years for specified criminal violations
under the Insurance Article. It alters the purpose of provisions of law, relating to
nonprofit health service plans, and alters specified provisions of law relating to the
regulation and acquisition of nonprofit health entities. It also alters the mission of a
nonprofit health service plan, and requires board members of a nonprofit health
service plan to act in a specified manner in furtherance of the mission of a nonprofit
health service plan.

House Bill 341, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on May
11, 2004, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me to sign
Senate Bill 4.

Very truly yours,                           

Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.

Governor

Senate Bill No. 4

AN ACT concerning

Regulation and Acquisition of Nonprofit Health Service Plans Entities

FOR the purpose of extending the statute of limitations for a certain time period for
certain criminal violations under the Insurance Article; altering the purpose of
certain provisions of law relating to nonprofit health service plans; altering
certain provisions of law relating to the regulation and acquisition of certain
nonprofit health service plans entities; altering the mission of a nonprofit health
service plan; altering the manner in which a nonprofit health service plan must
develop certain goals, objectives, and strategies; providing that a certain charter
and the laws, rules, and regulations of the jurisdiction of domicile of a certain
entity supercede and take precedence over certain requirements under certain
circumstances; altering the standards the Maryland Insurance Commissioner
must use to issue a certificate of authority; requiring the Commissioner to
consider a certain entity's inability to comply with certain requirements in
determining whether to issue or renew the certificate of authority of a nonprofit
health service plan; altering the applicability of certain statutory requirements
for a board of directors of a nonprofit health service plan; requiring certain
board members of a nonprofit health service plan to act in a certain manner
consistent with in furtherance of the mission of a nonprofit health service plan;

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