JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE.
Wednesday, March 5, 2003.
 
 
Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M.
Prayer was offered by the Reverend Robert F. Quinn, C.S.P., Chaplain of the House, as follows:
Almighty and Merciful God, this brief but sacred moment of prayer and reflection enables us to deepen our personal relationship with You, Our Creator, and reminds us of Your presence in our midst. We depend upon You and Your guidance as we take up and evaluate the items on today’s legislative calendar. In Your goodness, help us to reason clearly, to judge fairly, to dialogue openly and to legislate ethically. Today, many Christians around the world are observing Ash Wednesday, the opening of the Lenten Season. May the spirit of this season turn our thoughts, priorities and goals to the relevance of spiritual values in daily life. During these trying and uneasy times, inspire us to build trust, confidence and hope in the hearts and minds of the electorate by a clear, accurate and honest articulation of current issues and challenges.
Grant Your blessings to the Speaker, the members and employees of this House and their families. Amen.
At the request of the Speaker, the members, guests and employees joined with him in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Message from the Governor.

A message from His Excellency the Governor (under the provisions of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution) recommending legislation relative to validating certain votes taken at the annual town meeting held by the town of Dracut (House, No. 2017) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Tuesday, March 4.
The message was read; and it was referred, on motion of Miss Garry of Dracut, with the accompanying draft of a bill, to the committee on Rules.
Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for said committee, then reported on the foregoing message, a Bill validating certain votes taken at the annual town meeting held by the town of Dracut (printed in House, No. 2017), which was read.
Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Miss Garry, the bill was read a second time forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.
Subsequently, under suspension of the rules, on further motion of the same member, the bill (having been reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) was read a third time; and it was passed to be engrossed. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Resolutions.

Mr. Murphy of Lowell being in the Chair,—
Resolutions (filed with the Clerk by Mr. Greene of Billerica) commending Jean Hage for his heroic actions, were referred, under Rule 85, to the committee on Rules.
Mr. Petrolati of Ludlow, for the committee on Rules, then reported that the resolutions ought to be adopted. Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Greene, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

Petitions.

Mr. Perry of Sandwich presented a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2016) of Jeffrey Davis Perry (by vote of the town) relative to authorizing the town of Sandwich to convey certain conservation land (deposited with the Clerk previously to five o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, December 4, 2002); and the same was referred, on motion of the same member, to the committee on Rules.
Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for said committee, on the foregoing petition, reported a Bill authorizing the town of Sandwich to convey certain conservation land (House, No. 2016), which was read [Local Approval Received].
Under suspension of the rules, on further motion of Mr. Perry, the bill was read a second time forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.

Mr. Galvin of Canton presented a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of William C. Galvin for legislation to authorize the Department of Mental Retardation to establish a sick leave bank for Francie R. Minder, an employee of said department; and the same was referred, under Rule 24, to the committee on Rules.

Paper from the Senate.

A petition of Charles E. Shannon and Garrett J. Bradley for legislation to further regulate certificates of birth resulting in stillbirth, came from the Senate referred, under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Government Regulations.
The House then concurred with the Senate in the suspension of said rule; and the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1953) was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Government Regulations.

Reports of Committees.

By Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committee on Rules and the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the petition of Robert F. Fennell, Thomas M. McGee and Steven Myles Walsh that the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance be authorized to transfer a certain easement under the control of the Department of Environmental Management in the city of Lynn to said city. Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Demakis of Boston, the report was considered forthwith. Joint Rule 12 was suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill) was referred to the committee on State Administration. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Order.

On motion of Mr. Finneran of Boston,—
Ordered, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet tomorrow at eleven o’clock A.M.


Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough then moved that the House adjourn; and the motion prevailed. Accordingly, without proceeding to consideration of the matter in the Orders of the Day, at two minutes before two o’clock P.M. (Mr. Murphy of Lowell being in the Chair) the House adjourned, to meet tomorrow at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.