Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. O’Flaherty of Chelsea 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:

Eternal God, the Ultimate Source of Compassion and Truth, we depend upon You, Your gifts of wisdom and guidance in our effort to serve faithfully the people, the Commonwealth and the common good during these dangerous, stressful and difficult days. As legislators, we pray for clarity of thought in dealing with today’s various challenges and a realistic vision of the future in planning for tomorrow’s uncertainties and opportunities. May the ideals and spirit of this nation’s founders and our own personal philosophical and religious principles guide us through these turbulent times. Our prayers and thoughts are with and for the men and women in the armed forces and especially with the families of this war’s casualties.

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

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

A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to making certain technical amendments to the Supplemental Appropriations Act of fiscal year 2003 (House, No. 3727) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Friday, March 21.

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

The Chair (Mr. O’Flaherty) announced appointments to the following special committees:

Representatives Rogers of Norwood, Harkins of Needham, Haddad of Somerset, Murphy of Weymouth, Hynes of Marshfield, Leary of Worcester, Spilka of Ashland, Frost of Auburn and Poirier of North Attleborough to the special committee established (under House Order, No. 2001) to study House Rules and procedures relating to voting.

Representatives DiMasi of Boston, Scaccia of Boston, Ayers of Quincy, Larkin of Pittsfield, Fennell of Lynn, Garry of Dracut, Wolf of Cambridge, Spellane of Worcester, Peisch of Wellesley, Rogeness of Longmeadow and deMacedo of Plymouth to the special committee established (under House Order, No. 2002) to make an investigation and study of the feasibility of requiring that certain amendments to appropriation bills which would increase appropriations, be accompanied by a corresponding provision to decrease appropriations from other items of appropriation in said bill by an equal amount.

Representatives Atsalis of Barnstable, Hynes of Marshfield, O’Brien of Kingston and Turkington of Falmouth were appointed as a special committee of the House to conduct Matthew C. Patrick of Falmouth from the Third Barnstable District, to the Council Chamber to be qualified at such time as may be convenient to the Governor and Council.

Resolutions (filed with the Clerk by Ms. Rogeness of Longmeadow) celebrating the occasion of the one hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the incorporation of the town of Hampden, 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. Rush of Boston, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

Petitions (deposited with the Clerk previously to five o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, December 4, 2002) were presented and they were severally referred, under Rule 24 and Joint Rule 13, as follows:

By Mr. Fagan of Taunton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3724) of James H. Fagan relative to the retirement of Richard Sykes, an employee of the Department of Mental Health; and

By the same member, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3725) of James H. Fagan relative to the retirement of Agnes Gustafson, an employee of the Department of Mental Health;

Severally to the committee on Public Service.

Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

A petition (subject to Joint Rules 7B and 9) of Thomas M. Menino, Brian P. Wallace, Kevin G. Honan and Dianne Wilkerson for legislation to establish the Washington Street business improvement district in the city of Boston (deposited with the Clerk previously to five o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, December 4, 2002) was presented and referred, under Rule 24, to the committee on Rules.

Mrs. Parente of Milford presented a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3728) of Marie J. Parente and Richard T. Moore (by vote of the town) relative to the issuance of a certain license for the sale of wines and malt beverages by the licensing authority of the town of Milford; 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. Demakis of Boston, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Paul C. Demakis and other members of the General Court for legislation to require combined taxable income reporting of certain corporations.

By Mr. Dempsey of Haverhill, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Brian S. Dempsey providing for workforce reduction through an early retirement incentive program for certain employees of former counties.

By Mr. Ruane of Salem, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of J. Michael Ruane (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to the payment in lieu of tax agreement between the city of Salem and the New England Power Company.

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

The House Bill authorizing the town of Sandwich to convey certain conservation land (House, No. 2016) came from the Senate passed to be engrossed, in concurrence, with an amendment striking out section 3 and inserting in place thereof the following two sections:

“SECTION 3. The consideration to be paid by P. A. Landers, Inc. to the town of Sandwich shall be equal to or greater than the full and fair market value for the land to be conveyed by the town to P. A. Landers, Inc. based upon an independent appraisal of the land. P. A. Lan­ders, Inc. shall be responsible for any costs for appraisals, surveys and other expenses relating to the conveyance of the land.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.”.

Under suspension of Rule 35, on motion of Mr. O’Brien of Kingston, the amendment (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) was considered forthwith; and it was adopted, in concurrence.

A communication from the Human Resources Division of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (under the provisions of section 61A of Chapter 31 and section 5(3)(e) of Chap­ter 32 of the General Laws) submitting revisions to regulations for initial medical and physical fitness standards tests of municipal public safety personnel (Senate, No. 1960), was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Public Service.

A report of the committee on Health Care, asking to be discharged from further consideration of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 692) of Susan C. Tucker, Douglas W. Petersen, Stephen M. Brewer, Pamela P. Resor and other members of the General Court for legislation to reduce mercury levels and to provide for public education on mercury dangers, and recommending that the same be referred to the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture,— accepted by the Senate, was considered forthwith, under Rule 42; and it was accepted, in concurrence.

By Mr. Toomey of Cambridge, for the committee on Public Safety, on House, No. 3376, a Bill relative to sprinkler systems and improving fire safety (House, No. 3726). Read; and referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. Rodrigues of Westport, for the committee on Commerce and Labor, on House, Nos. 8 and 32, a Bill further regulating the expiration dates of gift certificates and certain mediums of exchange (House, No. 3729). Read; and referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

On motion of Mr. Finneran of Boston,—

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

At a quarter after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Casey of Winchester (Mr. O’Flaherty of Chelsea being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Wednesday next at eleven o’clock A.M.