House Journal, December 2, 2002

JOURNAL OF THE HOUSE.

Monday, December 2, 2002.

Met according to adjournment, at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session, with Mr. Fagan of Taunton 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, the festival of lights and celebrations and the season of good cheer and good will towards all gives us the intellectual, emotional and physical energy to respond to our annual December commitments and responsibilities. The spirit of the season, both of giving and receiving, also makes us aware of the needs of others as we draw up our own wishlists. The joyous mood should enable us to work together in addressing the vexing issues of these uncertain and changing times on the local and national level. We pray now for Your guidance and Your gift of wisdom as we struggle to create a realistic vision and to formulate plans for the future which offer people hope, security and peace.

Grant Your blessings to the Speaker, the members and employees of this House and their families. Amen.

At the request of the Chair (Mr. Fagan), the members, guests and employees joined with him in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

Engrossed Bills.

Engrossed bills

Authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey a certain parcel of land to the Taunton Development Corporation (see Senate, No. 1591, changed and amended) (which originated in the Senate);

Relative to the charter of the town of Plymouth (see House, No. 5253);

Exempting the position of chief of police in the town of Carver from the civil service law (see House, No. 5256); and

Authorizing the appointment of Alcino Fernandes as a police officer in the town of Milford (see House, No. 5346);

(Which severally originated in the House);

Severally having been certified by the Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage, were passed to be enacted; and they were signed by the acting Speaker and sent to the Senate.

Orders of the Day.

Senate bills

Relative to the rights of adopted persons under a certain instrument (Senate, No. 825); and

Designating the Merrimack Valley Regional Transit Authority Transportation Center in Lawrence as the Senator Patricia McGovern Transportation Center (Senate, No. 2359);

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, in concurrence.

The House Bill authorizing the Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance to convey certain land in the town of Ashfield (House, No. 5217), reported by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to be correctly drawn, was read a third time; and it was passed to be engrossed. Sent to the Senate for concurrence.

The House Bill clarifying tastings (House, No. 4814) was read a second time.

The amendment previously recommended by the committee on Ways and Means,— that the bill be amended by substitution of a bill with the same title (House, No. 5247),— was adopted.

The substituted bill then was ordered to a third reading.

The House Bill to establish a paraprofessional incentive program (House, No. 4702) was read a second time.

The amendments previously recommended by the committee on Ways and Means,— that the bill be amended in line 4, by inserting after the word “shall” the words “, subject to appropriation,”; and in line 28, by striking out the word “for” and inserting in place thereof the words “used to defray”,— were adopted.

Pending the question on ordering the bill, as amended, to a third reading, Ms. Wolf of Cambridge moved that it be amended in line 12 by inserting after the word “or” the words “paraprofessionals who have worked in public schools for a lesser time”.

The amendment was adopted; and the bill (House, No. 4702, amended) was ordered to a third reading.

Order.

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 fourteen minutes after eleven o’clock A.M., on motion of Mrs. Cleven of Chelmsford (Mr. Fagan of Taunton being in the Chair), the House adjourned, to meet on Thursday next at eleven o’clock A.M., in an Informal Session.