House Journal, June 26, 2003

Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. Donato of Medford 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:

Eternal God, we pray that this brief moment of reflection and prayer will help us to renew and deepen our faith and trust in You, Our Creator. Our daily routine and our many daily responsibilities often direct our attention from You. Teach us to recognize, at all times, the importance of human material and spiritual values. Inspire us to keep our noble ideals, our religious commitments and our ultimate priorities in proper order. May our listening skills enable us to respond to the concern of the people and to be attuned to Your ways. Let our hearts and minds be open to Your gifts of peace, joy and gratitude, which offer us a meaningful life.

At the request of the Chair (Mr. Donato), 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. Atsalis of Barnstable and other members of the House) congratulating Jean Gardner on being chosen as the recipient of the Mercy Otis Warren Cape Cod Woman of the Year Award;

Resolutions (filed by Messrs. O’Brien of Kingston and Webster of Hanson) congratulating J. Foster “Frosty” Cass on the occasion of his retirement; and

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Rushing of Boston) honoring Ms. Malia Lazu on her many accomplishments;

Mr. Petrolati of Ludlow, 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. Rushing, 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 order (filed by Mr. Finneran of Boston) was referred, under Joint Rule 30, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently:

Ordered, That, notwithstanding the provisions of Joint Rule 10, joint standing committees and the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, be granted until Wednesday, July 30, 2003, within which to make reports on matters referred to them.

Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committees on Rules, then reported that the order ought to be adopted. Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Smizik of Brookline, the order was considered forthwith; and it was adopted. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The House Bill to protect federal transportation funding and strengthen drunk driving laws (House, No. 3873) came from the Senate with the endorsement that said branch had insisted on its amendments (in which the House had non-concurred).

The bill bore the further endorsement that the Senate had concurred with the House in the appointment of a committee of conference on the disagreeing votes of the two branches; and that Senators Panagiotakos, McGee and Tarr had been joined as the committee on the part of the Senate.

Subsequently Mr. Vallee of Franklin, for said committee of conference, reported a bill with the same title (House, No. 3929).

Placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting, the question being on acceptance.

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 Arthur J. Broadhurst relative to the issuance or renewal of physicians’ certificates of registration; and

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Daniel E. Bosley relative to the financial obligations of tobacco manufacturers selling cigarettes to consumers within the Commonwealth;

Severally to the committee on Health Care.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Arthur J. Broadhurst and Brian S. Dempsey relative to the enrollment of students in driver training schools and the issuance of driver education certificates. To the committee on Public Safety.

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mrs. Paulsen of Belmont, 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, that the House Bill designating Regatta Field in Lowell as the Anne Dean Welcome Field (House, No. 1535) be scheduled for consideration by the House.

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

By Mr. Kujawski of Webster, for the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, that the House Bill relative to the city of Brockton’s contributions to the health insurance premiums of its retirees (House, No. 3867) [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 Mrs. Parente of Milford, for the committee on Long-Term Debt and Capital Expenditures, that the Bill providing for an accelerated transportation development and improvement program for the Commonwealth (House, No. 3914) ought to pass. Referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. Binienda of Worcester, for the committee on Energy, on Senate, No. 382 and House, No. 2231, a Bill to promote recycling and protect the environment in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts (House, No. 2231) [Representative Speliotis of Danvers dissenting].

By Mrs. Parente of Milford, for the committee on Long-Term Debt and Capital Expenditures, on House, No. 3920, a Bill relative to certain capital spending authorizations (House, No. 3928).

By Mr. Hall of Westford, for the committee on State Administration, on a petition, a Bill relative to the State Library (House, No. 841).

By the same member, for the same committee, on a petition, a Bill authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey an easement on state property in Waltham for communications purposes (House, No. 843).

By the same member, for the same committee, on a petition, a Bill designating the Springfield Public Library as the library of last recourse for western Massachusetts (House, No. 1379).

By the same member, for the same committee, on a petition, a Bill relative to public libraries in the Commonwealth (House, No. 2888).

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

By Mr. Binienda of Worcester, for the committee on Energy, on a petition, a Bill to prevent fraudulent redemption of empty beverage containers subject to the bottle law (House, No. 336).

By Mr. Hall of Westford, for the committee on State Administration, on Senate, No. 1667 and House, No. 1199, a Bill relative to restoring the infrastructure of library services for residents of the Commonwealth (House, No. 1199).

Severally read; and referred, under Rule 33B, to the committee on Science and Technology.

By Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committee on Rules, that the Bill establishing Juneteenth Independence Day (House, No. 1936) ought to pass. Referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

By Mr. Hall of Westford, for the committee on State Administration, on a petition, a Bill relative to the library records of minors (House, No. 2891). Read; and referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

By Mr. Kujawski of Webster, for the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling, that the following matters be scheduled for consideration by the House:

Providing for the elimination of the residency requirement for the town administrator of the town of Dedham (House, No. 2012) [Local Approval Received];

Relative to the preliminary elections in the city of Malden in 2003 (House, No. 3740) [Local Approval Received];

Establishing a sick leave bank for John Nourse, an employee of the Department of Correction (House, No. 3822); and

Relative to affordable housing in the town of Provincetown (House, No. 3842, changed) [Local Approval Received];

Severally placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting for a second reading.

Authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey a certain parcel of land in the city of Fall River (House, No. 3831); and

Concerning the conveyance of certain park land in the town of Yarmouth (House, No. 3899);

Severally reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn, were read a third time; and they were passed to be engrossed. Severally 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 Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M.

At twenty-two minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Peterson of Grafton (Mr. Donato of Medford being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M.