H.B. 1062                                               VETOES

in local decision making. Moreover, it gives the sheriff "the power to affect the
budget".

I agree with the concerns raised by the County Commissioners of St. Mary's County
as they are ultimately responsible for the county's budget. There should be no
confusion on this matter. This bill infringes on their legislative prerogative.

For the above stated reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1062.

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

House Bill No. 1062

AN ACT concerning

St. Mary's County - Deputy Sheriffs - Command-Level Appointees

FOR the purpose of altering in St. Mary's County an appointed personnel position in
the Sheriff's office from a Captain to a command-level position; requiring the
County Commissioners and the Sheriff to set the number, rank, and salaries of
the command-level positions and approve the creation, continued existence,
funding, or reestablishment of a command-level position; authorizing the
Sheriff to appoint command-level personnel with the approval of the County
Commissioners; requiring that when the appointment to a command-level
position ends as a result of certain actions, the individual serving in that
position returns to a certain rank under certain circumstances; and generally
relating to command-level appointees in the Sheriff's office in St. Mary's
County.

BY repealing and reenacting, with amendments,
The Public Local Laws of St. Mary's County
Section 120-2 A.(l) and B.
Article 19 — Public Local Laws of Maryland
(2002 Edition, as amended)

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

Article 19 - St. Mary's County

120-2.

A. (1) Except for the Sheriff, all personnel of the Sheriff's office shall
participate in the merit system of St. Mary's County and shall be hired and governed
by the rules of that system. [A Captain] COMMAND-LEVEL PERSONNEL appointed by
the Sheriff in accordance with Subsection B of this section shall participate in the
merit system except to the extent that the rules of that system conflict with the
provisions of Subsection B of this section.

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