Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.

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

God of Kindness and Love, we pause for a few moments of prayer and reflection to recognize and honor Your presence in our midst and to thank You for our daily material and spiritual blessings. During these times of rapid change in many aspects of our daily routines, responsibilities, culture and priorities, we pray for the knowledge and wisdom to address thoughtfully the needs of both people and our diverse communities. Guide our efforts to form and to be guided by fairness and a right conscience in our decision making process. Inspire us to hold in high esteem all virtues, especially truth, integrity and courage as we together meet and resolve current issues and plan for the future of the Commonwealth.

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.

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

Resolutions (filed by Ms. Candaras of Wilbraham) congratulating Dr. Louisa-May D. Bouchard on the occasion of her retirement from the East Longmeadow Public School System;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Greene of Billerica and other members of the House) commending the Republic of China on its contributions to promote world health;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Kaufman of Lexington) congratulating Cornelius P. Cronin on the celebration of his one hundredth birthday;

Resolutions (filed by Representatives O’Brien of Kingston and Gifford of Wareham) congratulating Dr. Martin T. Hanley, Jr., on the occasion of his retirement as superintendent of Carver Public Schools; and

Resolutions (filed by Representatives Reinstein of Revere and DeLeo of Winthrop) congratulating Edna Edwards Staub upon the occasion of her graduation from the University of Massachusetts;

Mr. Miceli of Wilmington, 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 Ms. Candaras, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

Mr. Binienda of Worcester presented a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3839) of Timothy P. Murray (mayor), Thomas R. Hoover (city manager), John J. Binienda, Vincent A. Pedone, James B. Leary, Robert Spellane and John P. Fresolo (with the approval of the city council) relative to provisional employees in the city of Worcester; and the same was referred to the committee on Public Service. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:

By Mrs. Gomes of Harwich, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Shirley Gomes and other members of the General Court that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles be directed to issue distinctive license plates for the purpose of funding the Cape Cod Baseball League.

By Mr. Leary of Worcester, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Timothy P. Murray (mayor), Thomas R. Hoover (city manager), James B. Leary, Harriette L. Chandler, Guy W. Glodis, John J. Binienda, Robert Spellane and John P. Fresolo (with the approval of the city council) relative to the fees paid by the collector/treasurer of the city of Worcester to the Registry of Deeds for the recording of tax lien documents.

By Mrs. Parente of Milford, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Marie J. Parente relative to the residency requirements for reduced tuition at the University of Massachusetts Medical School.

By Mr. Straus of Mattapoisett, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of William M. Straus and another for legislation to further regulate contributions and expenditures under the campaign finance laws.

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

A report of the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture, asking to be discharged from further consideration of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1208) of Harriette L. Chandler, Guy W. Glodis, John P. Fresolo, John J. Binienda and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the Upper Blackstone Water Pollution Abatement District, its voting procedures, buy-in costs for new members and other matters concerning the district, and recommending that the same be referred to the Senate committee on Ways and Means,— accepted by the Senate, was considered forthwith, under Rule 42; and it was accepted, in concurrence, insomuch as relates to the discharge of the committee.

A petition of Brian A. Joyce, Barry R. Finegold, Richard T. Moore and Robert L. Hedlund for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to abolish the Governor’s Council, came from the Senate referred, under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on the Judiciary.

The House then concurred with the Senate in the suspension of said rule; and the petition (accompanied by proposal, Senate, No. 1984) was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on the Judiciary.

By Mr. Rogers of Norwood, for the committee on Ways and Means, on House No. 2021, reports, in part, a Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 2003 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects (House, No. 3833) [Direct Appropriation: $2,000,000.00]. Read; and 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.

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Rogers, 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.

Pending the question on passing the bill to be engrossed, Representatives Wolf of Cambridge and Paulsen of Belmont moved that it be amended in section 1, at the end of the first sentence, by inserting after the word “items” the words “; provided further, that the Department of Transitional Assistance shall develop plans to prevent homelessness and to locate permanent housing in order to reduce the time of stay in shelters”.

The amendment was adopted; and the bill (House, No. 3833, printed as amended) was passed to be engrossed. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

By Mr. Kujawski of Webster, for the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, that the House Bill relative to the appointment of a city councilor in the city of Marlborough (House, No. 3812) [Local Approval Received] be scheduled for consideration by the House.

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough, the bill was read a second and (having been reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) a third time forthwith; and it was passed to be engrossed. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The House Bill authorizing the town of Middleborough to issue an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises (House, No. 3723), 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.

On motion of Mr. Verga of Gloucester,—

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

At twenty-seven minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Verga, the House adjourned, to meet on Wednesday next at twelve o’clock noon.