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JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE.
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Thursday,
September 18, 2003.
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Met according to adjournment,
at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. DiMasi
of Boston 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, Lord of Heaven
and Earth, during this moment of prayer and spiritual reflection, we
acknowledge our dependence upon You and Your guidance in our effort
to comprehend and resolve conscientiously current issues. In our diverse
society, Your gift of wisdom enables us to propose legislation and public
policy goals which best serve the people and society. As elected leaders,
teach us to learn from the legislative experiences of our predecessors
as we address today’s challenges and plan for the future. In our
desire to offer You and the people our best efforts, inspire us to use
our talents and insights wisely so that our communities will be peaceful
and prosperous and the people happy and safe.
Grant Your blessings to the Speaker,
the members and employees of this House and their families. Amen.
At the request of the
Chair (Mr. DiMasi), 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. Finneran of Boston) commemorating the dedication of the Justine
Liff Elm Tree in Dorchester Park;
Resolutions (filed by
Mr. Connolly of Everett) honoring Rose O’Keefe on the occasion
of her one hundredth birthday;
Resolutions (filed by
Mr. Driscoll of Braintree) commemorating the twenty fifth anniversary
of the founding of the Dianne DeVanna Center;
Resolutions (filed by
Mr. Nyman of Hanover and other members of the House) congratulating
Kirk H. Fordyce on the occasion of his retirement;
Resolutions (filed by
Mr. O’Brien of Kingston and other members of the House) on the
occasion of Prisoner of War-Missing in Action Recognition Day; and
Resolutions (filed by
Mrs. Poirier of North Attleborough) congratulating Father Francis J.
Crowley on his fifty years in the priesthood;
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. 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.
Communications.
The following communications
were read for the information of the House:
Communications
From the Chairman of the
Management Team of Boston University (under the provisions of Section
13 of Chapter 133 of the Acts of 1989) submitting a copy of its annual
report of the Boston University/Chelsea partnership for the fiscal year
2003; and
From Wonderland Greyhound
Park, Inc. (under Section 2 of Chapter 128C of the General Laws) submitting
a copy of all contracts, agreements or conditions pursuant to which
simulcast events are broadcast, transmitted or received.
Severally placed on file.
Annual
and Special Reports.
Annual Reports
Of the Capital Resource
Company (under the provisions of Section 12 of Chapter 816 of the Acts
of 1977) describing the formation and current status of said company;
Of the Commissioner of
Banks (under the provisions of Section 13 of
Chapter 167 of the General Laws) containing a statement of condition
of each state-chartered co-operative bank in the Commonwealth for the
calendar year 2002;
Of the committee on Long-Term
Debt and Capital Expenditures (under the provisions of House Rule 17D)
for the year 2003;
Of the Massachusetts Commission
on the Status of Women (under the provisions of Section 1 of Chapter
138 of the Acts of 1998) of its findings and activities for the fiscal
year ending June 30, 2003;
Of the Massachusetts Turnpike
Authority (under the provisions of Section 20 of Chapter 81A of the
General Laws) of its activities for the fiscal year 2002; and
Of the State Ethics Commission
(under the provisions of Section 2(1) of Chapter 268B of the General
Laws) for the fiscal year 2003;
A bi-monthly report of
the Executive Office of Transportation and
Construction (under the provisions of Section 178 of Chapter 653 of
the Acts of 1989) submitting an account of the costs in connection with
the depression of the Central Artery and construction of the Ted Williams
Tunnel;
An interim report of the
Administrative Office of the Trial Court (under the provisions of Section
15 of Chapter 358 of the Acts of 1996, as amended by Section 4 of Chapter
157 of the Acts of 1998 and Section 19 of Chapter 142 of the Acts of
2000) relative to the implementation of the expansion of the one trial
system for the superior and district courts of certain counties;
Quarterly Reports
Of the Massachusetts Convention
Center Authority (under the provisions of Section 5L of Chapter 152
of the Acts of 1997) relative to all contracts regarding the Boston
Convention and Exhibition Center project entered by said authority;
and
Of the Commissioner of
the Mass Highway Department (under the provisions of item 6010-1000
contained in Section 2 of Chapter 26 of the Acts of 2003) of the bonded
funded expenditures of said department for the period ending June 30,
2003; and
A semi-annual report of
the Insurance Fraud Bureau (under the provisions of Section 99(k) of
Chapter 398 of the Acts of 1991) on the disposition of matters referred
to said bureau;
Severally were placed
on file.
Petitions.
Petitions severally were
presented and referred as follows:
By Ms. Blumer of Framingham,
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4170) of Karen Spilka and
Deborah D. Blumer (by vote of the town) relative to preliminary elections
in the town of Framingham; and
By Ms. Stanley of West
Newbury, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4171) of Harriett
L. Stanley and Bruce E. Tarr (by vote of the town) relative to providing
recall elections in the town of Groveland;
Severally to the committee
on Election Laws.
By Mr. Kaufman of Lexington,
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4172) of Jay R. Kaufman, Robert
A. Havern, Thomas M. Stanley and Susan C. Fargo (by vote of the town)
relative to the granting of licenses for the sale of all alcoholic beverages
to be drunk on the premises to certain restaurants in the town of Lexington.
To the committee on Government Regulations.
By Mr. Marzilli of Arlington,
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No.
4173) of J. James Marzilli, Jr., Jay R. Kaufman, Anne M. Paulsen
and Robert A. Havern (by vote of the town) relative to the qualifications
necessary for appointment to the position of town manager in the town
of Arlington; and
By Mr. Murphy of Burlington,
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4174) of Charles A. Murphy
(by vote of the town) for legislation to prohibit elected officials
in the town of Burlington from holding additional elected positions;
Severally to the committee
on Local Affairs and Regional Government.
By Mr. Broadhurst of Methuen,
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4175) of Steven A. Baddour,
Arthur J. Broadhurst and others (with the approval of the mayor and
city council) that the city of Methuen be authorized to appoint additional
officers to the intermittent police force of said town; and
By Mr. Kennedy of Brockton,
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4176) of Thomas P. Kennedy,
Christine E. Canavan, Geraldine Creedon and Robert S. Creedon, Jr. (with
the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to the retirement
of certain employees of the city of Brockton;
Severally to the committee
on Public Service.
By Ms. Spilka of Ashland,
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4177) of Karen Spilka and
Deborah D. Blumer (by vote of the town) that the town of Framingham
be authorized to enter into certain tax deferral and recovery agreements;
and
By the same member, petition
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 4178) of Karen Spilka and Deborah D.
Blumer (by vote of the town) that the town of Framingham be authorized
to regulate certain property tax exemption requirements for certain
elderly persons;
Severally to the committee
on Taxation.
Severally sent to the
Senate for concurrence.
Petitions severally were
presented and referred as follows:
By Mr. Demakis of Boston,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Paul C. Demakis, J. James Marzilli,
Jr., Matthew C. Patrick and Robert O’Leary relative to establishing
a minimum energy efficiency standard for certain products.
By Mr. Dempsey of Haverhill
(by request), petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of John A. Michitson
for legislation to authorize teleconference meetings of governmental
bodies.
By Mr. Finegold of Andover,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Barry R. Finegold, James R. Miceli
and Susan C. Tucker for legislation to authorize and direct the Division
of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance be release an interest in
a certain parcel of land in the town of Tewksbury.
By Mr. Hargraves of Groton,
petition (subject to Joint Rules 12 and 9) of Robert S. Hargraves and
Steven C. Panagiotakos (by vote of the towns) for legislation to establish
the boundary line between the town of Groton and the town of Pepperell.
By Mr. Howland of Freetown,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Mark A. Howland for a legislative
amendment to the Constitution relative to the qualification of voters.
By Mr. Hynes of Marshfield,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Frank M. Hynes relative to the
acquisition of new estates or claims of homestead.
By Mr. LeDuc of Marlborough
(by request), petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Tony Liccardi for
legislation to exempt persons denied a firearms identification card
from jury duty.
By Mr. Naughton of Clinton,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Harold P. Naughton, Jr., and
James B. Eldridge for legislation to include the Lancaster Sewer District
on the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority Advisory Board.
By Mrs. Parente of Milford,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Marie J. Parente relative to
the crime of voyeurism and establishing penalties therefor.
By the same member, petition
(subject to Joint Rule 12) of Marie J. Parente relative to motor vehicle
homicide caused by sleep deprivation.
By Mr. Petrolati of Ludlow
(by request), petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Rodney Walker relative
to the suspension of drivers licenses of persons convicted of certain
violations of the controlled substances law.
By Mrs. Pope of Wayland,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Susan W. Pope and other members
of the House relative to extending the time within which cities and
towns are required to repay funds borrowed for certain school building
construction projects.
By Mrs. Teahan of Whitman,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Kathleen M. Teahan and Pamela
P. Resor relative to accounting requirements for executors, administrators,
guardians, trustees and conservators of minors.
By Mr. Stanley of Waltham,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Thomas M. Stanley and others
relative to the disposition of a parcel of land in the city of Waltham
known as the Fernald Center and under the control of the Division of
Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.
By Mr. Verga of Gloucester,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Anthony J. Verga and Bruce E.
Tarr for legislation to designate a certain traffic island in the city
of Gloucester as the Paul Bergmann Memorial Traffic Island.
By Mr. Wagner of Chicopee,
petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Joseph F. Wagner for legislation
to require custodial parents to notify non-custodial parents relative
to certain records of minor children.
Severally, under Rule
24, to the committee on Rules.
Papers
from the Senate.
The House Bill establishing
a sick leave bank for John Nourse, an employee of the Department of
Correction (House, No. 3822) came from the Senate passed to be engrossed,
in concurrence, with an amendment adding at the end thereof the following
sentence: “Whenever said John Nourse terminates employment with
said department or requests to dissolve said sick leave bank, the balance
of sick leave time shall be transferred to the extended illness leave
bank.”.
Under suspension of Rule
35, on motion of Mr. Donato of Medford, the amendment (reported by the
committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) was considered
forthwith; and it was adopted, in concurrence.
The House Bill relative
to the city of Brockton’s contributions to the health insurance
premiums of its retirees (House, No. 3867, amended) came from the Senate
passed to be engrossed, in concurrence, with amendments in section 2
(as printed), in line 2, by inserting after the word “Brockton”
the words “to the health insurance premiums”; and by striking
out section 2 (added by amendment by the House) and inserting in place
thereof the following section:
“SECTION 2. This
act shall take effect as of June 30, 2003.”.
Under suspension of Rule
35, on motion of Mr. Donato of Medford, the amendments (reported by
the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn) were
considered forthwith; and they were adopted, in concurrence.
Petitions were referred,
in concurrence, under suspension of Joint Rule 12, as follows:
Petition (accompanied
by bill, Senate, No. 2091) of Dianne Wilkerson, Paul C. Demakis, Jarrett
T. Barrios, Salvatore F. DiMasi and Kevin G. Honan for legislation to
provide for the issuance of a distinctive registration plate to restore,
preserve and enhance the Charles River Esplanade. To the committee on
Public Safety.
Petition (accompanied
by bill, Senate, No. 2092) of John W. Seaver, Richard T. Moore and Marie
J. Parente for legislation relative to installing Internet filters in
public libraries. To the committee on State Administration.
Reports
of Committees.
By Mr. Scaccia of Boston,
for the committee on Rules that Joint Rule 7B be suspended on the following
petitions:
Petition (accompanied
by bill) of James H. Fagan for legislation to provide civil service
status for certain employees of the municipal lighting plant of the
city of Taunton; and
Petition (accompanied
by bill) of James H. Fagan relative to authorizing the certification
and eligibility of certain persons as fire fighters in the city of Taunton;
Severally to the committee
on Public Service.
Under suspension of the
rules, on motion of Mr. Festa of Melrose, the reports were considered
forthwith. Joint Rule 7B then was suspended, in each instance. Severally
sent to the Senate for 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 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; and
Petition (accompanied
by bill) of Stephen P. LeDuc and other members of the House relative
to establishing a firearm identification card for pepper spray;
Severally to the committee
on Public Safety.
Under suspension of the
rules, on motion of Mr. Donato of Medford, 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 Senate
Bill designating a certain trail in Mansfield as the World War II veterans
trail (Senate, No. 1897) be scheduled for consideration by the House.
Under suspension of Rule
7A, on motion of Mr. Donato of Medford, the bill was read a second time
forthwith; and it was ordered to a third reading.
By Mrs. Owens-Hicks of
Boston, for the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government,
on a petition, a Resolve relative to county lands (House, No. 106).
Read; and referred, under Joint Rule 29, to the committees on Rules
of the two branches, acting concurrently.
By Mrs. Owens-Hicks of
Boston, for the committee on Local Affairs and Regional Government,
on a petition, a Bill relative to granting of an easement by the city
of Newton to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (House, No.
4009).
By Mr. Koczera of New
Bedford, for the committee on Public Service, on House, No. 239, a Bill
relative to group insurance benefits for certain public retirees (House,
No. 4167).
Severally read; and referred,
under Rule 33, to the committee on Ways and Means.
Emergency
Measure.
The engrossed Bill 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), having been certified by the Clerk to be rightly
and truly prepared for final passage, was considered, the question being
on adopting the emergency preamble.
A separate vote was taken,
as required by the provisions of Article XLVIII (as amended by Article
LXVII) of the Amendments to the Constitution;
and the preamble was adopted, by a vote of 8 to 0. Sent
to the Senate for concurrence.
Orders
of the Day.
House bills
Relative to the issuance
of additional liquor licenses in the town of Winchester (printed as
Senate, No. 2032); and
Validating the action
taken at a special town meeting held by the town of Rockland (printed
in House, No. 4142);
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.
Order.
On motion of Mr. Donato
of Medford,—
Ordered, That
when the House adjourns today, it adjourn to meet on Monday next at
eleven o’clock A.M.
At twenty-five minutes
after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mr. Donato (Mr. DiMasi
of Boston being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Monday
next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.
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