ROBERT L. EHRLICH, JR., Governor                            S.B. 221

This bill requires local education agencies to notify the parents or guardians of blind
or visually impaired children, including children with multiple disabilities, of the
availability of the educational programs offered by the Maryland School for the Blind.

House Bill 741, 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 174.

Very truly yours,
Robert L. Ehrlich, Jr.
Governor

Senate Bill No. 174

AN ACT concerning

Education - Maryland School for the Blind - Notice to Parents or Guardians

of Availability of Programs

FOR the purpose of requiring local education agencies to notify the parents or
guardians of certain children of the availability of the educational programs
offered by the Maryland School for the Blind; and generally relating to providing
notice of educational programs offered at the Maryland School for the Blind.

BY adding to

Article — Education

Section 8-307.1

Annotated Code of Maryland

(2001 Replacement Volume and 2003 Supplement)

SECTION 1. BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF
MARYLAND, That the Laws of Maryland read as follows:

Article - Education

8-307.1.

EACH LOCAL EDUCATION AGENCY IN THE STATE SHALL NOTIFY THE PARENTS
OR GUARDIANS OF EACH BLIND OR VISUALLY IMPAIRED CHILD, INCLUDING
CHILDREN WITH MULTIPLE DISABILITIES, OF THE AVAILABILITY OF THE
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS OFFERED BY THE MARYLAND SCHOOL FOR THE BLIND.

SECTION 2. AND BE IT FURTHER ENACTED, That this Act shall take effect
July 1, 2004.

May 26, 2004

The Honorable Thomas V. Mike Miller, Jr.
President of the Senate
State House
Annapolis MD 21401

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