Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. Tobin of Quincy in the Chair (having been appointed by the Speaker, under authority conferred by Rule 5, to perform the duties of the Chair).

Prayer was offered by the Reverend Robert F. Quinn, C.S.P., Chaplain of the House, as follows:

Holy Spirit of God, we look to You for direction and guidance in our daily struggle to address rationally our personal and legislative responsibilties and opportunities. Often our available options are limited, but Your help enables us to read the signs of the times accurately and to respond to the issues of the day in a thoughtful manner. Teach us to be open to new information, insights and change and the past experiences and accomplishments of our predecessors. We pray for the spiritual strength and the courage to remain faithful to our basic human and spiritual values and ideals so that our relationship to You will remain firm. May we continue to be mindful not only of our own needs but also the needs of others who cannot care for themselves.

Grant Your blessings to the Speaker, the members and employees of this House and their families. Amen.

At the request of the Chair (Mr. Tobin), the members, guests and employees joined with him in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

A message from His Excellency the Governor submitting the annual budget of the Commonwealth for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 2003 (House, No. 1) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Wednesday, February 26.

The message was read; and it was referred, under Rule 30, with the accompanying schedules, to the committee on Ways and Means.

A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to financing the affordable housing trust (House, No. 2014) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Wednesday, February 26.

The message was read; and it was referred, under Rule 30, with the accompanying draft of a bill, to the committee on Housing and Urban Development. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The following resolutions (filed with the Clerk) were referred, under Rule 85, to the committee on Rules:

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Fagan of Taunton) congratulating Scott E. Rodrigues on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. O’Brien of Kingston) congratulating Brendan Cully on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America; and

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. O’Brien of Kingston and Webster of Hanson) congratulating Weston M. Dravenstadt on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Mr. DiMasi of Boston, for the committee on Rules, reported, in each instance, that the resolutions ought to be adopted. Under suspension of the rules, in each instance, on motion of Mr. Casey of Winchester, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

Annual reports

Of the Plymouth County District Attorney (under the provisions of Section 99 (R) of Chapter 272 of the General Laws) relative to interceptions of wire and oral communications; and

Of the Workers’ Compensation Advisory Council (under the provisions of Paragraph 2 of Section 17 of Chapter 23E of the General Laws) relative to the state of the workers’ compensation system for fiscal year 2002;

Biennial report of the Division of Health Care Finance and Policy (under the provisions of Section 4 of Chapter 118G of the General Laws) for the years 2001 and 2002; and

Bi-monthly report of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (under the provisions of Section 178 of Chapter 653 of the Acts of 1989) of the cost for the Central Artery/Ted Williams Tunnel Project.

Quarterly reports

Of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (under the provisions of Section 9 of Chapter 87 of the Acts of 2000) on the status of the Cental Artery/Ted Williams Tunnel Project; and

Of the Division of Employment and Training (under the provisions of Section 68 of Chapter 233 of the Acts of 1983) relative to the condition of the Commonwealth’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for the period ending December 31, 2002;

Report of the Massachusetts Convention Center Authority (under the provisions of Section 5L of Chapter 152 of the Acts of 1997) relative to all contracts regarding the Boston Convention and Exhibition Center project entered into by said authority for the month of December, 2002.

Severally were placed on file.

A communication from the Department of Revenue submitting notice of proposed changes in fees charged by the Underground Storage Tank Board (under the provisions of Section 2 of Chap­ter 21J of the General Laws) for the delivery of petroleum products (Senate, No. 1950) was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture.

A communication from the Board of Trustees of the Health Care Security Trust (under the provisions of Section 4 (h) of Chapter 29D of the General Laws) submitting an Operating Trust Agreement (Senate, No. 1951) was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Health Care.

Reports of the Department of Public Health (under the provisions of Sections 5 and 20 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws) relative to inspections of certain correctional facilities, as follows:

Of the Essex County Correctional Alternative Center, in the city of Lawrence;

Of the Middlesex County House of Correction and Jail, in the town of Billerica; and

Of the Souza-Baranowski Correctional Center, in the town of Shirley;

Severally were spread upon the records of the House; and returned to the Senate.

A petition of Robert A. Antonioni and Harold P. Naughton, Jr., for legislation to amend the charter of the Sterling Camp Meeting Association, came from the Senate referred, in compliance with Joint Rule 9, to the committee on Commerce and Labor.

The House then concurred with the Senate; and the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1941) was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Commerce and Labor.

The engrossed Bill relative to the mailing of property tax bills in the city of Lawrence (see House, No. 2013) (which originated in the House), having been certified by the Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage, was passed to be enacted; and it was signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

On motion of Mr. Finneran of Boston,—

Ordered, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M.

At twenty-five minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Torrisi of North Andover (Mr. Tobin of Quincy being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.