H.B. 457

VETOES

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 457 - Criminal Procedure - Identity Theft - Venue for Prosecution.

This bill authorizes a State's Attorney or the Attorney General to investigate and
prosecute offenses relating to personal identifying information fraud. It also
authorizes the Attorney General to exercise all the powers and duties of a State's
Attorney to investigate and prosecute specified violations, and establishes that a
prosecution for a violation of specified offenses relating to personal identifying
information fraud or other crimes based on a violation may be commenced in a county
in which an element of the crime occurred or in which the victim resides.

Senate Bill 257, which was passed by the General Assembly and signed by me on
April 27, 2004, accomplishes the same purpose. Therefore, it is not necessary for me
to sign House Bill 457.

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

House Bill No. 457

AN ACT concerning

Criminal Procedure - Identity Theft - Venue for Prosecution

FOR the purpose of authorizing a State's Attorney or the Attorney General to
investigate and prosecute certain offenses relating to personal identifying
information fraud; authorizing the Attorney General to exercise all the powers
and duties of a State's Attorney to investigate and prosecute certain violations;
authorizing a State's Attorney or the Attorney General to investigate and
prosecute certain offenses relating to personal identifying information fraud;
authorizing the Attorney General to exercise all the powers and duties of a State's
Attorney to investigate and prosecute certain violations; establishing that a
prosecution for a violation of certain offenses relating to personal identifying
information fraud or other crimes based on a violation may be commenced in a
county in which an element of the crime occurred or in which the victim resides;
and generally relating to certain offenses relating to personal identifying
information fraud.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
Article - Criminal Law
Section 8-301

Annotated Code of Maryland
(2002 Volume and 2003 Supplement)

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