Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mrs. Walrath of Stow 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:

God, Our Creator, we take this moment to ask and pray for Your guidance and assistance throughout this day and every day as we address our personal and legislative responsibilities and opportunities. We open our minds and hearts to You, Your ways and values in the struggle to offer You and the people our best conscientious efforts and wisest decisions. Grant us the patience and wisdom to evaluate accurately and honestly the large number of legislative proposals and new public policy issues which come before us. Teach us to be thoughtful and fair in the process and aware of possible future consequences of our decisions. As we join together in building more stable and ethical communities in our diverse society with a diversity of ideas, help us to accept our disappointments calmly and our successes humbly.

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

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

A message from His Excellency the Governor submitting recommendations for making appropriations for the fiscal year 2003 to provide for supplementing certain existing appropriations and for certain other activities and projects (House, No. 3884) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Wednesday, June 4.

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.

A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to establishing a sex offender Internet database (House, No. 3885) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Friday, June 6.

The message was read; and it was referred, under Rule 30, with the accompanying draft of a bill, to the committee on Criminal Justice. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

A statement of Mr. Festa of Melrose was spread upon the records of the House, as follows:

MR. SPEAKER: I would like to call to the attention of the House the fact that I was unable to be present in the House Chamber for a portion of the sitting of Wednesday last due to personal circumstances that had been previously scheduled and unavoidable. Any roll calls that I may have missed that day was due entirely to the reason stated. If I had been present for the taking of roll call numbers 123, 126 and 129, I would have voted in the affirmative, in each instance. If I had been present for the taking of roll call numbers 124, 125, 127 and 128, I would have voted in the negative, in each instance.

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 Cub Scout Pack 731 on reaching its fiftieth anniversary; and

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Galvin of Canton) congratulating Robert R. Geary on the occasion of his retirement from the Avon Police Department;

Mrs. Harkins of Needham, 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. Driscoll of Braintree, 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 Mr. Bradley of Hingham, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3886) of Garrett J. Bradley (by vote of the town) that the licensing authority of the town of Hingham be authorized to issue an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises. To the committee on Government Regulations.

By Ms. L’Italien of Andover, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3887) of Barbara A. L’Italien, Susan C. Tucker and Barry R. Finegold (by vote of the town) relative to amending the charter of the town of Andover. To the committee on Local Affairs.

By Mr. Donelan of Orange, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3888) of Christopher J. Donelan and Stephen M. Brewer (by vote of the town) that the town of Athol be authorized to implement an early retirement incentive program for certain employees of said town. To the committee on Public Service.

By Mr. Linsky of Natick, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3889) of David Paul Linsky and Cheryl A. Jacques (by vote of the town) relative to real estate tax exemptions for certain persons over the age of eighty in the town of Sherborn. To the committee on Taxation.

Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:

By Mr. Bradley of Hingham (by request), petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Paul Kearney relative to the taxation of alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises.

By the same member (by request), petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Paul Kearney relative to the taxation of carbonated non-alcoholic beverages.

By the same member, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Garrett J. Bradley and Robert L. Hedlund relative to regulating photographs on drivers licenses.

By Mr. Hill of Ipswich, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bradford R. Hill and Bruce E. Tarr relative to certain zoning laws.

By Mr. Koutoujian of Newton, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Peter J. Koutoujian relative to the assignment of prizes from the Massachusetts State Lottery.

By Mr. Pedone of Worcester, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Vincent A. Pedone and other members of the General Court (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain land in the city of Worcester.

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

Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2001) of Susan C. Fargo and David F. Gately, mayor, and others (with the approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to retirees group health insurance premium contribution in the city of Waltham; and

Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2007) of Michael W. Morrissey, A. Stephen Tobin, Bruce J. Ayers and Ronald Mariano (with the approval of the mayor and city council) for legislation relative to the issuance of pension funding bonds by the city of Quincy;

Severally to the committee on Public Service.

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 John F. Quinn, Paul J. Donato and Mary S. Rogeness relative to the licensure and regulation of pawnbrokers. To the committee on Government Regulations.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Stephen O’Riorden relative to the expenditure of funds by cities and towns under the community preservation law. To the committee on Taxation.

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

The engrossed Bill authorizing the Stoneham board of library trustees to appoint library personnel (see House, No. 3714) (which originated in the House), having been certified by the Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage, was passed to be enacted; and it was signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

The House Bill consolidating Massachusetts Housing Finance Agency mortgage loans (House, No. 3734), 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. Finneran of Boston,—

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

At twelve minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mrs. Paulsen of Belmont (Mrs. Walrath of Stow being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Thursday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.