Wednesday, April 9, 2003.

Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., with Mrs. Canavan of Brockton 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 take a moment from our work schedule for a brief prayerful meditation and to focus our attention and thoughts on You. With open minds, generous hearts and good will toward all, we ask for Your assistance as we take up and evaluate the items on today’s legislative calendar. In addressing and resolving complex often emotional and controversial issues and policies, inspire us to be thoughtful, reasonable and faithful to Your high ideals and sound principles. Teach us to be aware of our relationship with You as well as to our human and eternal destiny with which we have been blessed by You. Continue to guide our efforts to strengthen and unify our diverse communities by our commitment to integrity in decision making, trust in dealing with others and fairness to all people.

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

At the request of the Chair (Mrs. Canavan), the members, guests and employees joined with her in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Miss Garry of Dracut then took the Chair and, at her request and on motion of Representatives Reinstein of Revere, Travis of Rehoboth, and Webster of Hanson, the members, guests and employees stood in a moment of silent prayer to the memory of U.S. Army Specialist Matthew Boule of Dracut, U.S. Army Specialist Daniel Francis J. Cunningham of Revere, U.S. Marine First Lieutenant Brian McPhillips of Pembroke and U.S. Marine Captain Benjamin Sammis of Rehoboth, who lost their lives in the current conflict in Iraq.

Mrs. Canavan of Brockton having returned to the Chair,—

A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to the financial sustainability of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (House, No. 3804) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Tuesday, April 8.

The message was read; and it was referred, under Rule 30, with the accompanying draft of a bill, to the committee on Transportation. 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. Casey of Winchester) celebrating twenty five years of the Jenks Senior Center;

Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Haddad of Somerset) congratulating Jennifer Kleinschmidt on receiving the Gold Award of the Girl Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. O’Brien of Kingston, Straus of Mattapoisett and Howland of Freetown) congratulating the Dusek and Heimerdinger family on receiving the Family of the Year award;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. O’Flaherty of Chelsea) recognizing the fortieth anniversary of the United States Supreme Court decision in Gideon v. Wainright; and

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Walsh of Boston) congratulating the Laborers’ International Union of North America on the occasion of its one hundredth anniversary;

Mr. Scaccia 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. Donato of Medford, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:

By Ms. Atkins of Concord, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Cory Atkins and other members of the House for adoption of resolutions relative to a comprehensive public policy and strategy for the preservation and advancement of science and technology based economic development throughout the Commonwealth.

By Mr. Broadhurst of Methuen, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Sharon M. Pollard, Steven A. Baddour, Arthur J. Broadhurst and others for legislation to designate a certain bridge in the city of Methuen as the Joseph S. Franciosa Bridge.

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

A Bill further regulating certificates of birth resulting in stillbirth (Senate, No. 1953) (on a petition), passed to be engrossed by the Senate, was read; and it was referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.

Reports

Of the committee on Education, Arts and Humanities, asking to be discharged from further consideration of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 255) of Cynthia S. Creem for legislation relative to the creation of a sports injury commission to study school-age athletes’ injuries,— and recommending that the same be referred to the committee on Health Care.

Of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 244) of Harriette L. Chandler and Shirley Gomes for legislation relative to the disposition of museum property,— and recommending that the same be referred to the committee on the Judiciary.

Severally accepted by the Senate, were considered forthwith, under Rule 42; and they were accepted, in concurrence.

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 Berkshire County House of Correction and Jail, in the city of Pittsfield;

Of the Bristol County Jail, Ash Street Facility, in the city of New Bedford; and

Of the Plymouth County Correctional Facility, in the town of Plymouth;

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

Petitions were referred, in concurrence, under suspension of Joint Rule 12, as follows:

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1971) of Dianne Wilkerson and Benjamin Swan for legislation to establish fair compensation in the payment of expense premium commissions. To the committee on Insurance.

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1972) of Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. and Peter J. Larkin for legislation to authorize the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey a certain parcel of land in the town of Washington. To the committee on State Administration.

By Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committee on Rules, that Joint Rules 7B and 9 be suspended on the petition 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. Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Verga of Gloucester, the report was considered forthwith. Joint Rules 7B and 9 were suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill) was referred to the committee on Commerce and Labor. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

By Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committee on Rules, that Joint Rule 7B be suspended on the following petitions:

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Cory Atkins and Susan C. Fargo that the town of Concord be authorized to send certain information to registered voters in said town. To the committee on Election Laws.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Cory Atkins, Geoffrey D. Hall, David M. Nangle, Thomas A. Golden, Jr., and Susan C. Fargo for legislation to exempt the position of deputy chief of police in the town of Chelmsford from the provisions of civil service law. To the committee on Public Service.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of John W. Scibak that the town of Hadley be authorized to impose a local meals excise tax. To the committee on Taxation.

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Travis of Rehoboth, the reports were considered forthwith. Joint Rule 7B then was suspended, in each instance. Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

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 following petitions:

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and George N. Peterson, Jr., that cities and towns be authorized to increase the density of property zoned for residential usage to provide additional affordable housing units; and

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and George N. Peterson, Jr., for legislation to further regulate certain restrictions on development or building permits under zoning ordinances in cities and towns;

Severally to the committee on Housing and Urban Development.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Elizabeth A. Malia for legislation to provide health insurance for direct care workers in long term care. To the committee on Insurance.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of John J. Binienda and other members of the General Court for legislation to authorize the Trial Court to establish a sick leave bank for Natasha Searcy, an employee of said court. To the committee on the Judiciary.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and George N. Peterson, Jr., relative to the protection of wetlands under certain ordinances or by-laws in cities and towns. To the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Robert S. Hargraves for legislation to regulate the use of mobile phones by operators of motor vehicles. To the committee on Public Safety.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Brian S. Dempsey relative to providing for workforce reduction through an early retirement incentive program for certain employees of former counties; and

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Kevin J. Murphy, Thomas A. Golden, Jr., David M. Nangle and Stephen C. Panagiotakos for legislation to authorize the Department of Social Services to establish a sick leave bank for Ceylin Guillermo, an employee of said department;

Severally to the committee on Public Service.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Edward Sonn and Cory Atkins relative to the taxation of trusts. To the committee on Taxation.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Robert F. Fennell and Steven Myles Walsh that students and employees of North Shore Community College in the city of Lynn be authorized to use parking facilities of the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. To the committee on Transportation.

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Travis of Rehoboth, the reports were considered forthwith. Joint Rule 12 then was suspended, in each instance. Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

By Mr. Toomey of Cambridge, for the committee on Public Safety, on House, Nos. 76 and 79, a Bill relative to motor vehicles used to transport school children (House, No. 79).

By the same member, for the same committee, on a petition, a Bill relative to public safety (House, No. 1916).

Severally read; and referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.

The engrossed Bill authorizing the town of Sunderland to hold town meetings in the town of Deerfield (see Senate bill printed in Senate, No. 1967) (which originated in the Senate), having been certified by the Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage, was passed to be enacted (more than two-thirds of the members having agreed to pass the same); and it was signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

House bills

Designating the Bay State Tartan as the official Commonwealth of Massachusetts district tartan (House, No. 627); and

Relative to an annual Tartan Day in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (House, No. 2528);

Severally were read a second time; and they were ordered to a third reading.

On motion of Mr. Finneran of Boston,—

Ordered, That when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet tomorrow at one o’clock P.M.

Accordingly, without further consideration of the remaining matters in the Orders of the Day, at twenty-five minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Verga of Gloucester (Mrs. Canavan of Brockton being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet tomorrow at one o’clock P.M., in an Informal Session.