Met at twelve minutes past eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. DiMasi of Boston 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, the Ultimate Source of Goodness and Compassion, we pause at the beginning of a new workweek for a moment of personal and spiritual reflection. In discharging our current respon­sibilities and in planning for the future well-being of people, our communities and society, we pray for Your guidance and assistance. Grant us the patience, wisdom and clarity of thought to evaluate correctly the vast amount of information, suggestions and knowledge which comes to us daily through our eyes and ears. Let truth integrity and ethical principles be our standard for selecting right and just legislative options. May we continue to deepen our commitment to and increase our enthusiasm for building a secure, safe and caring society in which we recognize You as Our Creator.

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

At the request of the Chair (Mr. DiMasi), 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 Mr. Jones of North Reading) congratulating Ms. Carolyn Harris on the occasion of her retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Representatives Blumer of Framingham and Spilka of Ashland) commemorating the occasion of the tercentennial celebration of St. Petersburg, Russia;

Resolutions (filed by Ms. Candaras of Wilbraham) honoring Mary A. Irla in recognition of her many years of selfless humanitarianism and on the occasion of her receiving the B.P.O.E., Lodge 2448, Ludlow Elks 2002 Senior Citizen of the Year award;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Casey of Winchester) congratulating Massachusetts Business Development Corporation on the occasion of its fiftieth anniversary;

Resolutions (filed by Representatives Donovan of Woburn and Kaufman of Lexington) congratulating Richard T. Qualey on the occasion of his retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Hargraves of Groton) congratulating Tom Lussier on his eighteen and one-half years of service as executive director of the Massachusetts Teachers Retirement Board and on a lifetime of public involvement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Hargraves of Groton) congratulating the Merrimack Education Center on its thirty fifth anniversary;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Kafka of Sharon) congratulating Jordan Leef of Sharon on earning the rank of Eagle of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Kaufman of Lexington and Stanley of Waltham) congratulating Nate Beach-Westmoreland on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Kaufman of Lexington and Stanley of Waltham) congratulating James Wrigley on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Koczera of New Bedford) congratulating Brian Miner on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough) congratulating John Dufault on the occasion of his retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough) congratulating Robert Gardner on the occasion of his retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough) congratulating Irene Kalich on the occasion of her retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough) congratulating Colleen M. Kortes on the occasion of her retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough) congratulating Karen Margagnoni on the occasion of her retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Linsky of Natick) congratulating Ashley Elizabeth Halpin on receiving the Gold Award of the Girl Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Linsky of Natick) congratulating Neala Frances Polachi on receiving the Gold Award of the Girl Scouts of America; and

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Walsh of Boston) recognizing National Emergency Medical Services Week;

 Mr. DiMasi 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.

The following petition (deposited with the Clerk previously to five o’clock in the afternoon on Wednesday, December 4, 2002) was presented and it was referred, under Rule 24, as follows:

By Mr. Stanley of Waltham petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3849) of Thomas M. Stanley (with the approval of the mayor and city council) authorizing the use of certain park land for water purposes in the city of Waltham; and the same was referred to the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The following order (filed by Mr. Kaufman of Lexington) was adopted:

Ordered, That the House of Representatives hereby calls for a joint session of the two Houses, conformably to the provisions of Article LXVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the Amendments to the Constitution for the purpose of considering the proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to a vacancy in the office of Governor or Lieutenant-Governor (House, No. 727),— with reference to which the committee on the Judiciary had reported, in accordance with Joint Rule 23, that the amendment ought NOT to pass, the time within which the said committee was required to report having expired.

 

The following order (filed by Mr. Hynes of Marshfield) was adopted:

Ordered, That the House of Representatives hereby calls for a joint session of the two Houses, conformably to the provisions of Article LXVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the Amendments to the Constitution for the purpose of considering the proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution abolishing the Executive Council (House, No. 946),— with reference to which the committee on the Judiciary had reported, in accordance with Joint Rule 23, that the amendment ought NOT to pass, the time within which the said committee was required to report having expired.

The following order (filed by Mr. Travis of Rehoboth) was adopted:

Ordered, That the House of Representatives hereby calls for a joint session of the two Houses, conformably to the provisions of Article LXVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the Amendments to the Constitution for the purpose of considering the proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to the affirmation of marriage (House, No. 3190,— with reference to which the committee on the Judiciary had reported, in accordance with Joint Rule 23, that the amendment ought NOT to pass, the time within which the said committee was required to report having expired.

The following order (filed by Mr. Hynes of Marshfield) was adopted:

Ordered, That the House of Representatives hereby calls for a joint session of the two Houses, conformably to the provisions of Article LXVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the Amendments to the Constitution for the purpose of considering the proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution relative to limiting the content of appropriation bills (House, No. 3287),— with reference to which the joint committee on Ways and Means had reported, in accordance with Joint Rule 23, that the amendment ought NOT to pass, the time within which the said committee was required to report having expired.

The following order (filed by Mr. Hynes of Marshfield) was adopted:

Ordered, That the House of Representatives hereby calls for a joint session of the two Houses, conformably to the provisions of Article LXVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the Amendments to the Constitution for the purpose of considering the proposal for a legislative amendment to the Constitution to require biennial state budgets (House, No. 3288),— with reference to which the joint committee on Ways and Means had reported, in accordance with Joint Rule 23, that the amendment ought NOT to pass, the time within which the said committee was required to report having expired.

The following order (filed by Mr. Finneran of Boston) was adopted:

Ordered, That, conformably to the provisions of Article LXVIII (as amended by Article LXXXI) of the Amendments to the Consti­tution, a joint session of the two Houses be held on Wednesday, May 14, 2003, at two o’clock P.M., for the purpose of considering proposals for amendments to the Constitution.

Insofar as applicable, the special rules of procedure, in effect in the preceding General Court shall govern said joint session, and any further joint sessions called for the purpose of considering amendments to the Constitution.

Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

 

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 eight minutes before twelve o’clock noon, on motion of Mr. Peterson of Grafton (Mr. DiMasi of Boston being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Thursday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.