House Journal, August 11, 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:

Gracious God, this pause for a moment of personal reflection and prayer enables us to clear our minds and open our hearts to You, Your ways and Your guidance. Our recognition of Your reality and presence assists us in keeping our personal and legislative goals and priorities in clear focus. In sifting through daily the vast amount of information, data, and the many legislative proposals which call for our attention, teach us to look for accuracy, relevance and truth. In our desire to serve the current and future needs and reasonable expectations of the people, grant us the wisdom and courage to advance the common good and those fundamental principles which contribute to building a safe and fair society in which all can achieve their fulfillment and eternal destiny.

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.

A message from His Excellency the Governor returning with his objections thereto in writing the engrossed Bill placing the fire department of the town of Dracut under the civil service law [see House, No. 3903] (for message, see House, No. 4114) was filed in the Office of the Clerk on Thursday, August 7.

The message was read; and, under House Rule 12, placed in the Orders of the Day for the next sitting, the question being on passing the bill, notwithstanding the said objections.

A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to authorizing the State Ethics Commission to provide exemptions from the conflict of interest law (House, No. 4113) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Thursday, August 7.

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

A statement of Ms. Grant of Beverly 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 during the sitting of Thursday, July 10, I was inexplicably recorded as having voted yes on roll call number 236, and no on roll call 237. It was my intention to be recorded in the negative on roll call 236; and in the affirmative on roll call 237.

During the session, the Chair (Mr. Donato of Medford) declared a brief recess; and introduced United States Navy Hospital Corpsman Seth McLaughlin, accompanied by his mother, Patricia. Corpsman McLauglin, a veteran of Operation Iraqi Freedom who was celebrating his twenty-first birthday, had recently returned from six months of duty in Iraq. Corpsman McLauglin and his mother were the guests of Representative Falzone of Saugus.

The following resolutions (filed with the Clerk) were referred, under Rule 85, to the committee on Rules:

Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Haddad of Somerset) congratulating David Fazzina on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Representatives Haddad of Somerset and Travis of Rehoboth) congratulating Ryan Partridge on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America;

Resolutions (filed by Mr. Rodrigues of Westport) congratulating Anthony Anselmo, Jr., on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America; and

Resolutions (filed by Ms. Stanley of West Newbury) congratulating Don and Ursula Bade on the occasion of their fiftieth wedding anniversary;

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. Murphy of Burlington, 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. Scaccia of Boston) was referred, under Rule 24, to the committee on Rules:

Ordered, That, the rules of the House of Representatives (as printed in House order No. 2004) be amended in Rule 28, in line 2, by striking out the word “Counties” and inserting in place thereof the words “Local Affairs and Regional Government”; and in Rule 35, in line 9, by striking out the words “money shall be referred to the committees on Counties” and inserting in place thereof the words “or regional government funds shall be referred to the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government”.

Mr. Scaccia, for the said committee on Rules, then reported that the order ought to be adopted. Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Rushing of Boston, the order was considered forthwith; and it was adopted.

Mr. Quinn of Dartmouth presented a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4112) of John F. Quinn, Joan M. Menard and Mark A. Howland (by vote of the town) that the town of Lakeville be authorized to use a certain parcel of land for general municipal purposes; and the same was referred to the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

Of the committee on Public Safety, asking to be discharged from further consideration

Of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1283) of Stephen M. Brewer, Christopher J. Donelan, Michael R. Knapik and other members of the General Court for legislation to further regulate the sale of distinctive license plates for veterans; and

Of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1290) of Stephen M. Brewer, Robert A. Antonioni and Harriette L. Chandler for legislation to provide payments to municipalities for emergency disaster relief;

And recommending that the same severally be referred to the Senate committee on Ways and Means.

Severally accepted by the Senate, were considered forthwith, under Rule 42; and they were accepted, in concurrence, insomuch as relates to the discharge of the committee.

Of the committee on Public Safety, asking to be discharged from further consideration

Of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1310) of Guy W. Glodis for legislation relative to the rank of colonel in the Department of the State Police; and

Of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1324) of Robert A. Havern for legislation to establish the rank of first lieutenant of the State Police;

And recommending that the same severally be referred to the committee on Public Service; and

Of the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1346) of Richard T. Moore and Susan W. Pope for legislation to increase certain fees for the nonpayment of parking tickets,— and recommending that the same be referred to the committee on Taxation.

Severally accepted by the Senate, were considered forthwith, under Rule 42; and they were accepted, in concurrence.

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 Shirley Gomes, Thomas N. George and Robert A. O’Leary for legislation to provide for a reallocation of funding contributions by member towns of the Nauset Regional School District. To the committee on Education, Arts and Humanities.

Petition (accompanied by bill) 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; and

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Bradford R. Hill and Bruce E. Tarr relative to certain zoning laws;

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Eric Turkington for legislation to authorize the school committee of the Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School District to enter into a certain lease agreement with Martha’s Vineyard Aquatic Center, Inc.

Severally to the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Shirley Gomes and other members of the General Court for legislation to require interior lights on motor vehicles to be lit when said vehicle is stopped by a police officer between dusk and dawn. To the committee on Public Safety.

Petition (accompanied by bill) of Charles A. Murphy, Bradley H. Jones, Jr., and Carol A. Donovan relative to designating a certain bridge in the town of Bedford as the Michael P. Lenihan Memorial Bridge. To the committee on Transportation.

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. Koczera of New Bedford, for the committee on Public Service, on House, No. 2011, a Bill authorizing the town of Saugus to continue the employment of police officer Peter Cicolini (House, No. 4115) [Local Approval Received]. Read; and referred, under Rule 7A, to the committee on Steering, Policy and Scheduling.

Mr. Kujawski of Webster, for said committee, reported that the matter be scheduled for consideration by the House.

Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Falzone of Saugus, the bill was read a second time forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.

By Mr. Scaccia of Boston, for the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, that the Resolve to establish a special commission to evaluate the status of Massachusetts’ veterans long term care services (House, No. 1869) ought to pass. Referred, under Rule 33C, to the committee on Medicaid.

By Mr. Cabral of New Bedford, for the committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs, on a petition, a Resolve providing for an investigation and study by a special commission to study the needs of the elderly blind and visually impaired citizens of the commonwealth (House, No. 2814). Read; and referred, under Rule 33C, to the committee on Medicaid.

The engrossed Bill relative to certain school construction debt in the town of Reading (see House bill printed in House, No. 3900) (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 (more than two-thirds of the members having agreed to pass the same); and it was signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

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 nineteen minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Ms. Wolf of Cambridge (Mr. Donato of Medford being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Thursday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.