H.B. 1285

VETOES

Judiciary Committee, the Senate Judicial Proceedings Committee, and the General
Assembly. The final report is due by December 1, 2005.

The entire focus of this bill is to study the apparent gang problem in Prince George's
County. Membership of the task force is designated primarily from Prince George's
County's governmental units. In addition, staffing for the task force is to be provided
by the Office of the State's Attorney for Prince George's County. No other county in
the State has specific representation on the task force.

I believe that the most direct process to study youth gang activities in Prince George's
County is for the County to undertake this analysis. If requested, I will cooperate
with the County to provide access to State departments and agencies with expertise
in this area, including persons from the Department of Juvenile Services and the
Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention. I have great respect for the local
prerogative in such issues and therefore believe that it is inappropriate to sign
statewide legislation.

There is another issue that I must address regarding task forces and study
commissions that is not unique to this bill. There is a growing tendency within the
Maryland General Assembly to reduce the number of members that would
traditionally be appointed by the Governor to statutory task forces and study
commissions. In dealing with issues of statewide importance, I believe that the
Governor must have a greater role in deciding the membership of such study groups.
I will be extremely reluctant to sign legislation creating study groups that does not
provide an appropriate role for gubernatorial representation.

For the above stated reasons, I have vetoed House Bill 1285.

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

House Bill No. 1285

AN ACT concerning

Criminal Law—Criminal Group Enterprises—Penalties and Task Force
Task Force to Study Youth Gang Activities

FOR the purpose of prohibiting a person from threatening another with physical
violence with the intent to coerce, induce, or solicit the other to participate in or
prevent the other from leaving a formal or informal ongoing group, club,
organization, or association of individuals; prohibiting a person from using
physical violence with the intent to coerce, induce, or solicit the other to
participate in or prevent the other from leaving a formal or informal ongoing
group, club, organization, or association of individuals; establishing certain
penalties for certain violations of this Act; providing for the construction of this
Act; requiring the Governor's Office of Crime Control and Prevention (GOCCP)
to establish and fund pilot programs to advance community based intervention
strategies in Baltimore City, Montgomery County, and Prince George's County;
creating a Task Force to Study Youth Gang Activities; providing for the

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