Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. Fennell of Lynn 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, Whose goodness and mercy are limitless, we pause for a moment of personal reflection to focus our thoughts and attention on You, Our Creator. We recognize Your presence in our midst and ask for Your assistance as we address, to the best of our ability, our personal and legislative responsibilities. Often our legislative tasks are complex and difficult and so we depend upon Your guidance in resolving issues. On this Memorial Day weekend, our prayers and thoughts are with and for all deceased members of our armed forces. We are grateful to them for protecting and defending our country and our freedoms. In their memory, we unite, as a nation, in praying for the souls of the deceased members of our armed forces (both women and men) and renew our dedication to the basic principles and values for which they died.

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

At the request of the Chair (Mr. Fennell), 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 Representatives Canavan of Brockton, Creedon of Brockton and Kennedy of Brockton) congratulating Michael Pasquarosa on receiving the Outstanding Citizenship and Courage Award;

Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Creedon of Brockton) on the retirement of Betty Mattoli;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Kujawski of Webster) celebrating the life and achievement of Major Genevieve M. Lukowski;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Miceli of Wilmington) honoring Doctor Joseph C. Walsh upon his retirement from the Tewksbury Public School System after thirty four years of dedicated service;

Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Owens-Hicks of Boston) congratulating Wilfred A. Lawrence on the occasion of his one hundredth birthday;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Patrick of Falmouth) honoring Herbert Wettstein;

Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Poirier of North Attleborough) congratulating Roland E. Robitaille, Jr., on the occasion of his retirement;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Sánchez of Boston) congratulating Self Esteem Boston Educational Institute for ten years of service;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Wagner of Chicopee) commending Stephen R. Jendrysik on the occasion of his retirement from Chicopee Public Schools; and

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Wagner of Chicopee) commending Alexander M. Vyce on the occasion of his retirement from Chicopee Public Schools;

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

A communication from the Commissioner of Banks (under Section 2(31) of Chapter 167F of the General Laws) submitting proposed regulations governing national banks and credit unions (House, No. 3860), was referred to the committee on Banks and Banking. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The following communications were read for the information of the House:

Communications

From the Department of Environmental Protection regarding federal grant application for assistance under the leaking underground storage tank trust cooperative agreement for FY03 and FY04;

From the Massachusetts Port Authority (pursuant to Chapter 313 of the Acts of 1998, as most recently amended by Section 60 of Chapter 4 of the Acts of 2003) transmitting a copy of the proposed final procedures for completion of the Central Garage Expansion Project;

From the Secretary of the Executive Office for Administration and Finance (under the provisions of Section 3B of Chapter 7 of the General Laws) relative to proposed changes in fees for licenses, permits and services to be charged by certain state agencies;

From the Executive Office for Administration and Finance, Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, submitting a copy of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts Real Property Report for the year 2003; and

From Plainridge Racecourse (under Section 2 of Chapter 128C of the General Laws) submitting copies of contracts for the simulcasting of dog races;

Severally placed on file.

The final report of the Information Technology Commission established (pursuant to Section 6 of Chapter 142 of the Acts of 2002) relative to an enterprise-wide strategy for the Commonwealth’s information technology infrastructure;

A report of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (under the provisions of Section 178 of Chapter 653 of the Acts of 1989) of the bi-monthly cost report for the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project;

Quarterly reports

Of the MassHighway Department (under the provisions of items 6010-0001 and 6010-1000 of Section 2 of Chapter 184 of the Acts of 2002) for the period ending March 22, 2003;

Of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority (under the provisions of Section 9 of Chapter 87 of the Acts of 2000) on the status of the Central Artery/Ted Williams Tunnel Projects; and

Of the Division of Employment and Training (under the provision of Section 68 of Chapter 233 of the Acts of 1983) relative to the condition of the Commonwealth’s Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund for the period ending December 31, 2000;

Severally were placed on file.

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

By Mr. Jones of North Reading, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3861) of Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and other members of the House for legislation to prohibit the enrollment of applicants for state colleges who are citizens of countries designated as state sponsors of international terrorism. To the committee on Education, Arts and Humanities.

By Mr. Frost of Auburn, petition (accompanied by resolutions, House, No. 3862) of Paul K. Frost, other members of the House and another for the adoption of resolutions memorializing the Congress of the United States to enact legislation relative to the pricing of prescription drugs. To the committee on Health Care.

By Mr. O’Brien of Kingston, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3863) of the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, Thomas J. O’Brien and other members of the General Court relative to the security of certain information obtained by or in the possession of the Department of Environmental Protection. To the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture.

By Mr. Koutoujian of Newton, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3864) of Peter J. Koutoujian relative to safety measures to protect the Commonwealth from terrorism and crime. To the committee on Public Safety.

Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:

By Mr. Donato of Medford, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3865) of Paul J. Donato, Vincent P. Ciampa, J. James Marzilli, Jr., Charles E. Shannon and others (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the licensing authority of the city of Medford be authorized to issue additional licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises to certain restaurants. To the committee on Government Regulations.

By Ms. Kaprielian of Watertown, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3866) of Rachel Kaprielian, Steven A. Tolman and Peter J. Koutoujian (by vote of the town council) that the retirement board of the city of Watertown be authorized to grant increased retirement benefits to certain former employees of said city. To the committee on Public Service.

Severally 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 Robert A. O’Leary (by vote of the town) that the town of Wellfleet be authorized to establish a schedule of parking fines in said town.

By Ms. Khan of Newton, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kay Khan and other members of the House relative to the maintenance of the toll discount program of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority.

By Mr. Perry of Sandwich, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Jeffrey Davis Perry and other members of the House relative to the penalties for refusing to submit to a police officer.

By Mr. Petruccelli of Boston, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Anthony Petruccelli (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to governmentally or former governmentally involved housing in the city of Boston.

By Mr. Ruane of Salem, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of J. Michael Ruane relative to the expulsion of students in public institutions of higher education upon being found guilty of tampering with a public safety signal device or sounding a false alarm.

By Mr. Speliotis of Danvers, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Theodore C. Speliotis and Frederick E. Berry (by vote of the town) that the town of Topsfield be authorized to impose a tax on admissions to events at the Topsfield Fairgrounds located in said town.

By Mr. Vallee of Franklin, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of James E. Vallee and Cheryl A. Jacques (by vote of the town council) relative to municipal construction projects in the city of Franklin.

By Ms. Wolf of Cambridge, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Alice K. Wolf, Paul C. Demakis, Anne M. Paulsen and others (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of Cambridge be authorized to allow certain non-citizen residents of said city to vote in school committee and city council elections.

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

A Bill authorizing the town of Milton to issue a license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises (Senate, No. 420) (on a petition) [Local Approval Received], passed to be engrossed by the Senate, was read; and it was referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1626) of Frederick E. Berry for legislation to upgrade the Departments of Economic Development and Housing and Urban Development to cabinet level secretariats;

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1638) of Susan C. Fargo, Richard T. Moore, Robert L. Hedlund and Dianne Wilkerson for legislation relative to the retention of fees collected by the state board of building regulations and standards;

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1649) of Michael R. Knapik, Brian P. Lees, Richard T. Moore, Richard R. Tisei and other members of the General Court for legislation relative to the purchase of motor vehicles by the Commonwealth; and

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1665) of Richard T. Moore and Elizabeth Poirier for legislation to require the Superintendent of Buildings to provide healthy alternatives in vending machines located in state-owned buildings;

Severally to the committee on State Administration.

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 Kathleen M. Teahan and other members of the House relative to uncompensated care pools for acute care hospitals. To the committee on Health Care.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Christopher J. Donelan and Stephen Kulik relative to placing in county jails persons being held in protective custody. To the committee on the Judiciary.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of David B. Sullivan, Robert Correia, Michael J. Rodrigues and Joan M. Menard that the children of police officer Richard Magan, who died in the line of duty, be certified for appointment to the police service in the Commonwealth. To the committee on Public Service.

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

By Mr. Kujawski of Webster, for the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, asking to be discharged from further consideration

Of the Bill authorizing manufacturers of certain food products to import alcoholic beverages (printed as House, No. 697); and

Of the Bill establishing Juneteenth Independence Day (House, No. 1936);

And recommending that the same severally be referred to the House committee on Rules.

Under Rule 42, the reports severally were considered forthwith; and they were accepted.

By Mr. Kujawski of Webster, for the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, that the House Bill relative to the deadlines for submission of nomination papers for municipal officers in the city of Lynn (House, No. 3859) [Local Approval Received] be scheduled for consideration by the House.

Under suspension of Rule 7A, on motion of Ms. Wolf of Cambridge, the bill was read a second time forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Rushing of Boston, the bill (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. Kujawski of Webster, for the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, that the House Bill authorizing the Stoneham board of library trustees to appoint library personnel (House, No. 3714) [Local Approval Received] be scheduled for consideration by the House.

Under suspension of Rule 7A, on motion of Mr. Lepper of Attleboro, the bill was read a second time forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.

By Mr. Binienda of Worcester, for the committee on Energy, on a petition, a Bill relative to motor fuel pricing policies (House, No. 486).

By Mr. Wagner of Chicopee, for the committee on Transportation, on a petition, a Bill relative to the Chapter 90 Program (House, No. 1989, changed in line 17 by inserting after the word “direction” the words “and approval”; and in lines 54, 55 and 56 by striking out the following: “that would allow said towns to use up to 100 percent of the funding provided pursuant to this section for those uses detailed above”).

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

By Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committee on Rules, that the Bill designating the Pegan Cove filter bed property as the “Tony Anniballi Memorial Park at Pegan Cove” (House, No. 3367) ought to pass. Referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

By Mr. Toomey of Cambridge, for the committee on Public Safety, on Senate, No. 1337 and House, Nos. 2128 and 2287, a Bill relative to the enforcement of the safety belt law (House, No. 2128).

By Mr. Wagner of Chicopee, for the committee on Transportation, on a petition, a Bill designating a certain bridge in the town of Canton as the John E. Farrington Bridge (House, No. 661).

Severally 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 Tuesday next at eleven o’clock A.M.

At seventeen minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Ms. Grant of Beverly (Mr. Fennell of Lynn being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Tuesday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.