JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE
Thursday, August 7, 2003.
 
 
Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. Turkington of Falmouth 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 of Goodness and Forgiveness, a moment of spiritual reflection enables us to recognize and to acknowledge Your presence in our midst. This pause for a moment of prayer also offers us an opportunity to deepen our faith and commitment to You, Our Creator, and to thank You for Your blessings and gifts which we often take for granted. Teach us to use these gifts and blessings in a productive, wise and prudent manner. In carrying out our responsibilities and organizing our priorities, inspire us to be responsible leaders who unite people in pursuing causes and goals which enhance human dignity, recognize cultural diversity and respect traditional religious values and principles. May the common good and the well-being of all people be our common goal.
Grant Your blessings to the Speaker, the members and employees of this House and their families. Amen.
At the request of the Chair (Mr. Turkington), the members, guests and employees joined with him in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Resolutions.

The following resolutions (filed with the Clerk) were referred, under Rule 85, to the committee on Rules:
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Finegold of Andover) congratulating John E. “Spike” Boda, Jr. on the occasion of his retirement as golf pro at the Andover Country Club;
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Scaccia of Boston) congratulating Oreste “Rusty” DiMartino on the occasion of his retirement; and
Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Timilty of Milton and Ayers of Quincy) commemorating the fiftieth anniversary of Temple Betham of Randolph;
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. DeLeo of Winthrop, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

Petitions.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:
By Mr. Petersen of Marblehead, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4107) of Douglas W. Petersen and Thomas M. McGee (by vote of the town) relative to the municipal light board of the town of Marblehead. To the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government.
By Ms. Peisch of Wellesley, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4108) of Alice Hanlon Peisch and Susan C. Fargo (by vote of the town) relative to regulating certain property tax deferral requirements for the elderly in the town of Weston. To the committee on Taxation.
Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Petitions severally were presented and referred as follows:
By Mr. Binienda of Worcester, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of John J. Binienda and other members of the General Court relative to state agencies establishing sick leave banks.
By the same member, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of John J. Binienda and other members of the General Court relative to the fee for flashing light permits to volunteer firefighters, police or emergency medical technicians.
By Mr. Carron of Southbridge, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Mark J. Carron and other members of the General Court relative to the restrictions on leghold traps.
By the same member, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Mark J. Carron and other members of the General Court relative to limiting procurement contracts for services or projects to a period of not more than two years.
By Mr. Eldridge of Acton, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of James B. Eldridge and another relative to the distribution of resumes of applicants by employment agencies.
By Miss Garry of Dracut, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Colleen M. Garry, Steven A. Baddour and John A. Lepper providing for the annual observance of Guardian’s Day.
By Mr. Hill of Ipswich, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Bradford Hill and Bruce E. Tarr relative to certain zoning laws.
By Mr. Knuuttila of Gardner, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Brian Knuuttila and another relative to the protection of elderly and disabled persons from persons accepting gifts, gratuities or loans.
By the same member, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Brian Knuuttila, Robert A. Antonioni and another relative to the dissemination of criminal information to licensed pawnbrokers.
By the same member, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Brian Knuuttila and Robert A. Antonioni for legislation to authorize the Department of Mental Retardation to establish a sick leave bank for James Flamer, an employee of said department.
By Mr. Marzilli of Arlington, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of J. James Marzilli, Jr. relative to criminal offender record information of persons not convicted of arrests.
By Mr. O’Flaherty of Chelsea, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Eugene L. O’Flaherty relative to the procedure for the issuance of criminal complaints.
By Mrs. Parente of Milford, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Marie J. Parente relative to making certain designations of public properties.
By Mr. Patrick of Falmouth, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Matthew C. Patrick providing for medicare supplemental insurance when a health maintenance organization terminates coverage it previously provided in a service area.
By Mr. Petersen of Marblehead, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Douglas W. Petersen and Kathi-Anne Reinstein relative to the penalty for motor vehicle homicide.
By Mr. Petrolati of Ludlow (by request), petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of David A. Fields relative to providing an affidavit prior to filing a mechanics lien.
By Mr. Rush of Boston, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael F. Rush relative to the annual observance of Massachusetts History Day.
By Mr. Turkington of Falmouth, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Shirley Gomes, Thomas N. George, Matthew C. Patrick and Demetrius J. Atsalis relative to the retirement of employees of the Department of Social Services.
By Ms. Wolf of Cambridge, petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Alice K. Wolf relative to the English Immersion Law.
Severally, under Rule 24, to the committee on Rules.

Papers from the Senate.

Reports of the Department of Public Health (under the provisions of Sections 5 and 20 of Chapter 111 of the General Laws) relative to inspections of the Middlesex County House of Correction and Jail in the town of Billerica, were spread upon the records of the House; and returned to the Senate.

Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2058) of Stephen M. Brewer and Mark J. Carron (by vote of the town) for legislation to allow the town of Charlton to establish and maintain a firearm’s licensing fund; and
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2059) of Stephen M. Brewer and Mark J. Carron (by vote of the town) for legislation relative to the town of Charlton and Millennium Power Partners, L.P.;
Severally to the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government.

Petitions were referred, in concurrence, under suspension of Joint Rule 12, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2061) of Stephen M. Brewer and other members of the General Court for legislation to provide for better management for the issuance of firearm licenses. To the committee on Government Regulations.
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2062) of Cheryl A. Jacques for legislation to authorize the state teachers’ retirement board to grant four years of creditable service to Nancy K. Griswold. To the committee on Public Service.
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2063) of Guy W. Glodis, Jo Ann Sprague and John P. Fresolo for legislation to restrict the property tax exemption for private higher education institutions. To the committee on Taxation.

Reports of Committees.

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 Demetrius J. Atsalis that the Board of State Examiners of Electricians be authorized to implement a special licensing program for persons with certain skills and experience; and
Petition (accompanied by bill) of Peter J. Koutoujian relative to the assignment of prizes from the Massachusetts State Lottery;
Severally to the committee on Government Regulations.
Petition (accompanied by bill) of Dorothy Prevoir relative to the dispensing of prescription drugs. To the committee on Health Care.
Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Ms. Wolf of Cambridge, the reports were considered forthwith. Joint Rule 12 then was suspended, in each instance. Severally sent to the Senate for concurrence.

By Mr. Koczera of New Bedford, for the committee on Public Service, on House, Nos. 64, 69 and 71, an Order relative to authorizing the committee on Public Service to make an investigation and study of current House documents concerning retired and active public employees (House, No. 4109). Referred, under Joint Rule 29, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.
Subsequently Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for said committees, reported asking to be discharged from further consideration of said order; and recommending that the same be referred to the House committee on Rules. Under Rule 42, the report was considered forthwith; and it was accepted.

By Mr. Koczera of New Bedford, for the committee on Public Service, on a petition, a Bill establishing a sick leave bank for Christopher Boumil, an employee of the Department of Correction (printed as Senate, No. 2051).
By the same member, for the same committee, on House, Nos. 1744, 2523 and 2671, a Bill relative to creditable service for service rendered as a volunteer in the Peace Corps and Americorps (House, No. 4110).
Severally read; and referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.

By Mr. Cabral of New Bedford, for the committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs, on a petition, a Bill relative to mental health (House, No. 2978).
By Mr. Koczera of New Bedford, for the committee on Public Service, on House, No. 2138, a Bill relative to fiscal responsibility for public retirement systems (House, No. 4111).
Severally Read; and referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government on the part of the House.
By Mr. Cabral of New Bedford, for the committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs, on a petition, a Bill to begin the process to establish a life care center at Lemuel Shattuck Hospital (House, No. 561).
By the same member, for the same committee, on House, Nos. 166 and 1512, a Bill to increase the personal care allowance for residents of long term care facilities (House, No. 1512).
Severally read; and referred, under Rule 33C, to the committee on Medicaid.

Engrossed Bills.

Engrossed bills
Authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey an easement in certain land located in the town of Concord (see House, No. 1375, amended); and
Further extending the time for which certain land in Norfolk County may be used as a temporary minimum security alternative correction center (see House, No. 1625);
(Which severally originated in the House);
In respect to each of which the Senate had concurred in adoption of the emergency preamble, were passed to be enacted; and they were signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

The engrossed Bill authorizing the town of Maynard to grant an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises (see House, No. 3904) (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.

Orders of the Day.

The House Bill establishing a sick leave bank for Emanuel Roque, an employee of the Department of Correction (House, No. 3916) (its title having been changed by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading), reported by said committee to be correctly drawn, was read a third time; and it was passed to be engrossed. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Order.

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 a quarter after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Casey of Winchester (Mr. Turkington of Falmouth being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.