Tuesday, March 18, 2003.

Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. Correia of Fall River 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:

Gracious God, we pause for a moment of prayer and reflection to thank You for the blessings which You gave to us yesterday, to ask for guidance in addressing today’s challenges and opportunities and to seek Your gift of wisdom in our effort to organize our goals and priorities in the days ahead. During these dangerous and stressful times, both at home and overseas, inspire us to be resourceful and knowledgeable leaders who are fully aware of current societal problems and the best interest of the people. Teach us to be faithful to You, our own ideals, principles and religious values. In Your goodness, direct us and our efforts in building a peaceful, orderly and respectful society in which the rights of all are recognized.

Bestow Your blessings on the Speaker, the members and employees of this House and their families. Amen.

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

The final report (including majority and minority reports) of the special committee of the House established (under an order adopted by the House on January 1, 2003) to examine the returns of votes for Representatives in the several Representative Districts of the Commonwealth relative to the Third Barnstable District (House, No. 3720), filed this day in the Office of the Clerk, was referred, under Rule 85, to the committee on Rules.

By Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for said committee on Rules, on the fore­going final report, that the House Resolutions relative to declar­ing that Matthew C. Patrick was duly elected Representative to the General Court (printed in House, No. 3720, App. C) ought to be adopted. Referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

Mr. Kujawski of Webster, for said committee, reported that the matter be scheduled for consideration by the House; and, under said rule, the resolutions were placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting, the question being on adoption.

Mr. O’Brien of Kingston presented a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3723) of Thomas J. O’Brien, William M. Straus, Marc R. Pacheco and Mark A. Howland (by vote of the town) that the town of Middleborough be authorized to issue an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises to Charles B. Dillon d/b/a Cirelli Foods, Inc.; and the same was referred to the committee on Government Regulations. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:

By Mr. Hynes of Marshfield, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Frank M. Hynes relative to heating and air conditioning in commuter rail trains.

By Mr. Kennedy of Brockton, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Thomas P. Kennedy, Robert S. Creedon, Jr., Geraldine Creedon and Christine E. Canavan (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to the issuance of pension funding bonds by the city of Brockton.

Severally, under Rule 24, to the committee on Rules.

By Mr. Rogers of Norwood, for the committee on Ways and Means, on House No. 2020, reports, in part, a Bill making appropriations for fiscal year 2003 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations (House, No. 3719), which was read [Direct Appropriations: $62,337,640.00].

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Wagner of Chicopee, the bill was read a second time forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.

Subsequently, under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Rush of Boston, 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.

By Mr. Casey of Winchester, for the committee on Taxation, on House, Nos. 80, 83 and 88, a Bill making technical corrections relating to the administration of the tax laws of the Commonwealth (House, No. 3718). Read; and referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.

House bills

Authorizing the town of Sandwich to convey certain conservation land (House, No. 2016); and

Removing the town of Oak Bluffs from membership in the Martha’s Vineyard Commission (House, No. 2114, changed);

Severally reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn, were read a third time; and they were passed to be engrossed. Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

At half past eleven o’clock A.M., the Chair (Mr. Correia of Fall River) declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and at sixteen minutes after twelve o’clock noon, the House was called to order with Mr. Correia in the Chair.

The engrossed Bill making appropriations for fiscal year 2003 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations (see House, No. 3719) (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 Thursday next at eleven o’clock A.M.

At nineteen minutes after twelve o’clock noon, on motion of Ms. Rogeness of Longmeadow (Mr. Correia of Fall River being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Thursday next at eleven o’clock A.M.