JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE.
Thursday, August 14, 2003.
 
 
Met at ten minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. O’Flaherty of Chelsea 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, with faith and hope in You, we depend upon Your gift of wisdom as we address our many legislative responsibilities and creative opportunities. In responding to our daily tasks, inspire us to make rational, ethical and thoughtful decisions and choices. Grant us the patience to examine objectively the many legislative proposals and suggested public policy changes which demand our attention during the course of a week. May we have the intellectual maturity and good sense to respect the sound basic principles and traditions which guided our predecessors in the art of governing. Let the human and spiritual values which You have made known to us influence our daily decisions.
Grant Your blessings to the Speaker, the members and employees of this House and their families. Amen.
At the request of the Chair (Mr. O’Flaherty), the members, guests and employees joined with him in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Message from the Governor.

A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to the terms of certain bonds to be issued by the Commonwealth (House, No. 4117) was filed in the office of the Clerk on Monday, August 11.
The message was read; and it was referred, under Rule 30, with the accompanying draft of a bill, to the committee on Long-Term Debt and Capital Expenditures.

Statement of Representative Lantigua of Lawrence.

A statement of Mr. Lantigua of Lawrence 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 sittings of Monday, July 7 and Tuesday, July 15, I was inexplicably not recorded on roll calls numbered 151, 152 and 310. It was my intention, in each instance, to be recorded in the affirmative on said roll calls.

Resolutions.

Resolutions (filed with the Clerk by Mr. O’Brien of Kingston) congratulating Brian P. Alves, Jr., on receiving the Eagle Award of the Boy Scouts of America, were referred, under Rule 85, to the committee on Rules.
Mr. Miceli of Wilmington, for the committee on Rules, then reported that the resolutions ought to be adopted. Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Donato of Medford, the resolutions (reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were considered forthwith; and they were adopted.

Papers from the Senate.

A Bill authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain land in the town of Bridgewater to Patrick Driscoll (Senate, No. 1691, amended in section 1, in lines 3 to 8, inclusive, by striking out the following: “convey certain land of the commonwealth under the control of the department of corrections to Patrick Driscoll. The land is shown on Map 75 and Map 76 on the town assessors map which is on file in the assessor’s office of the town of Bridgewater consisting of approximately 4.5 acres and located on Winter street” and inserting in place thereof the follow­ing: “sell and convey by deed to Patrick Driscoll certain property, together with all structures thereon, if any, located on the northerly side of Winter street in the town of Bridgewater as described in 2 deeds recorded in the Plymouth county registry of deeds in Book 756, page 322 and Book 930, page 34, shown generally on the town of Bridgewater assessor’s map 75 and map 76 and consisting of approximately 4.5 acres. The exact boundaries of the parcel shall be determined by the commissioner in consultation with the department of correction after completion of a survey”) (on a petition), passed to be engrossed by the Senate, was read; and it was referred, under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.

Petitions were referred, in concurrence, under suspension of Joint Rule 12, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2066) of Stephen M. Brewer and Mary S. Rogeness for legislation to extend health care coverage to resident engineers of the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance. To the committee on Public Service.
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2067) of Michael W. Morrissey, Brian A. Joyce and Joseph R. Driscoll for legislation to authorize the Commissioner of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain land to Thayer Academy in Braintree; and
Petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2068) of Robert A. O’Leary and Eric Turkington (by vote of the town) for legislation to authorize the Massachusetts Department of Mental Health to grant an easement to the county of Nantucket for construction of the Fairgrounds Road Bicycle Path;
Severally to the committee on State Administration.

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 Thomas P. Kennedy, Geraldine Creedon, Christine E. Canavan and Robert S. Creedon, Jr., relative to designating the district courthouse in the city of Brockton as the George N. Covett Courthouse. To the committee on the Judiciary.
Petition (accompanied by resolve) of George N. Peterson, Jr., Pamela P. Resor, Karyn E. Polito and Paul J. P. Loscocco for an investigation by the Registrar of Motor Vehicles relative to the design of distinctive veterans license plates. To the committee on Public Safety.
Petition (accompanied by bill) of Bradford Hill for legislation to authorize cities and towns to assess owner-occupied residential property based on the purchase price of said property. To the committee on Taxation.
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. Scaccia of Boston, for the committee on Rules, that the Bill relative to police mutual aid agreements (House, No. 593) ought to pass.
Under suspension of the rules, on motion of Mr. Jones of North Reading, the bill was read a second time forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.

Engrossed Bill.

The engrossed Bill validating the actions taken at the annual election held in the town of Bridgewater (see House bill printed in House, No. 3931) (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.

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 twenty-two minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Turkington of Falmouth (Mr. O’Flaherty of Chelsea being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Monday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.