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NOTICE: - While reasonable efforts have been made to assure the accuracy of the data herein, this is NOT the official version of Senate Journal. It is published to provide information in a timely manner, but has not been proofread against the events of the session for this day. All information obtained from this source should be checked against a proofed copy of the Senate Journal. |
Monday, March 29, 1999.
Met at six minutes past eleven o'clock A.M.
A report of the Executive Office of Public Safety (under the provisions
of Section 73(i) of Chapter 180 of the Acts of 1998) submitting a plan to provide licensing
authorities with applications and renewal applications for firearm identification cards and Class
A and Class B licenses to carry firearms (received Thursday, March 25, 1999),— was
placed on file.
A report of the Department of Public Health (under the provisions of Sections 5 and 20 of
Chapter 111 of the General Laws) relative to inspection of the Western Massachusetts
Correctional Alcohol Center in the city of Springfield (received Monday, March 29,
1999),— was read and sent to the House for its information.
A report of the Department of Education (under the provisions of Section 21 of Chapter 300 of
the Acts of 1998) submitting recommendations to effectuate the transfer of the Essex County
Agricultural and Technical Institute (Senate, No. 1749) (received Thursday, March 25,
1999),— was referred to the committee on Education, Arts and Humanities.
Petitions were presented and referred, as follows:
By Mr. Magnani, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of David P. Magnani and Cheryl A.
Jacques for legislation relative to the naming of bridges in the town of Natick; and
By Mr. Rauschenbach, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Henri S. Rauschenbach and
Demetrius J. Atsalis for legislation relative to allowing the Barnstable County Special Sheriff
reentry into the retirement system;
Severally, under Senate Rule 20, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
concurrently.
By Ms. Murray, for the committee on Human Services and Elderly
Affairs, on Senate, No. 613, a Bill to reform the civil commitment process for persons with
mental illness (Senate, No. 1745) (Senator Magnani and Representatives Khan of Newton,
Sullivan of Fall River and Pope of Wayland dissenting); and
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on Senate, No. 639, a Bill to increase availability
of affordable child care for everyone (Senate, No. 1748);
Severally read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and
Means.
A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to the transfer of Worcester Airport (House, No. 4208),— was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Transportation.
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4209) of Francis H. Duehay (mayor), Alice K. Wolf,
Jarrett T. Barrios and others (with the approval of the city council) relative to the redevelopment
of the Mayor Michael J. Neville Manor Nursing Home on a portion of land adjacent to the Fresh
Pond Reservoir in the city of Cambridge;
To the committee on Local Affairs.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4210) of Michael A.
Sullivan, Timothy J. Toomey, Jr., and others (with the approval of the city council) relative to the
retirement withholdings of certain police officers of the city of Cambridge;
To the committee on Public Service.
Reports
Of the committee on Health Care, asking to the discharged from further consideration
Of so much of the recommendations of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
(House, No. 9) as relates to reporting of criminal convictions of certain professionals
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 28); and
Of so much of the recommendations of the Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation
(House, No. 9) as relates to medical examinations required by certain boards of registration
(accompanied by bill, House, No. 32);
And recommending that the same severally be referred to the committee on Government
Regulations.
Of the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 1729) of Kevin W. Fitzgerald and other
members of the General Court for legislation to provide for the licensing of alcohol and drug
counselors; and
Of the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3068) of Michael P. Cahill and other members
of the House relative to the practice of mental health counseling;
And recommending that the same severally be referred to the committee on Human Services and
Elderly Affairs.
Of the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 2884) of Robert F. Fennell and other members
of the General Court relative to the health insurance coverage for diagnostic screening for
prostate cancer,— and recommending that the same be referred to the committee on
Insurance.
Of so much of the recommendations of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development
(House, No. 93) as relates to making technical corrections to the right-to-know law (accompanied
by bill, House, No. 98),— and recommending that the same be referred to the committee on
Natural Resources and Agriculture.
Of the committee on Public Service, asking to be discharged from further consideration of the
petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3554) of Ronald Mariano, Michael W. Morrissey and
Joseph C. Sullivan for legislation to provide health insurance coverage for continuous pressure
air pumps for public employees,— and recommending that the same be referred to the
committee on Insurance.
Were severally considered forthwith, under Senate Rule 36, and accepted, in
concurrence.
The following resolutions (having been filed with the Clerk) were
considered forthwith and adopted, as follows:—
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Berry) "congratulating Christ Bouras on his retirement."
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4219) of Joseph T Geller, Ronny M. Sydney, David T.
Donnelly, Brian Paul Golden, Ruth B. Balser, Cynthia Stone Creem and Paul C. Demakis (by
vote of the town) that the town of Brookline be authorized to issue pension obligation bonds and
to establish a pension stabilization fund;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Public Service.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4218) of Gloria L. Fox and
other members of the General Court (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to
authorizing the city of Boston to convey certain land to the housing authority of said city,
notwithstanding the provisions of the uniform procurement law;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on State Administration.
On motion of Ms. Melconian,—
Ordered, That when the Senate adjourns today, it adjourn to meet again on Thursday next
at eleven o'clock A.M., and that the Clerk be authorized to dispense with the printing of a
calendar.
There being no objection, at eight minutes past eleven o'clock A.M., the President declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and, at a quarter before six o'clock P.M., the Senate reassembled, the President in the Chair.
PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE.
The House Bill relative to adoption and promoting the welfare of
children (House, No. 3965, amended),— came from the House with the endorsement that
the House had concurred in the Senate amendment, striking out all after the enacting clause and
inserting in place thereof the text of Senate document numbered 1747, with further
amendments in section 5 (as printed) by striking out the paragraph contained in lines 59, 60
and 61; and by inserting after section 23 (as printed) the following section:
"SECTION 25A. The department of social services shall conduct a study on the feasibility and
cost to the commonwealth of establishing a child welfare training and leadership institute to be
operated with federal revenues collected pursuant to Title IV-E and Title XIX of the Social
Security Act. Said department shall report to the general court the results of its study, and its
recommendations, if any, together with drafts of legislation necessary to carry its
recommendations into effect, by filing the same with the clerk of the house of representatives
who shall forward the same to the joint committee on the judiciary, the joint committee on
human services and elderly affairs, and the house and senate committees on ways and means on
or before October 1, 1999."
The rules were suspended, on motion of Mr. Moore, and the House amendments were
considered forthwith and adopted, in concurrence.
The following resolutions (having been filed with the Clerk) were
considered forthwith and adopted, as follows:—
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Hedlund) "congratulating Coach William Skip' Mortimer on the
occasion of his retirement after 27 years with the Hingham Public Schools."
There being no objection, at fourteen minutes before six o'clock P.M., the President declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and, at nineteen minutes past six o'clock P.M., the Senate reassembled, the President in the Chair.
Emergency Preambles Adopted.
An engrossed Bill relative to adoption and promoting the welfare of children (see House, No. 3965, amended), having been certified by the Senate Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage and containing an emergency preamble,— was laid before the Senate; and, a separate vote being taken in accordance with the requirements of Article LXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution, the preamble was adopted, in concurrence, by a vote of 2 to 0.
An engrossed Bill allowing certain municipal employees to serve as
city councillors (see House, No. 3719, amended), having been certified by the Senate Clerk to be
rightly and truly prepared for final passage and containing an emergency preamble,—
was laid before the Senate; and, a separate vote being taken in accordance with the
requirements of Article LXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution, the preamble was
adopted, in concurrence, by a vote of 2 to 0.
The bills were severally signed by the President and sent to the House for enactment.
An engrossed Bill extending the date for a special election in the town of Longmeadow (see House Bill, printed in House, No. 4131) (which originated in the House), having been certified by the Senate Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final passage, was passed to be enacted, two-thirds of the members present having voted in the affirmative, and it was signed by the President and laid before the Governor for his approbation.
There being no objection, at twenty-one minutes past six o'clock P.M., the President declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and, at twenty-eight minutes before seven o'clock, the Senate reassembled, the President in the Chair.
PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE.
The following engrossed bills (the first of which originated in the
Senate), having been certified by the Senate Clerk to be rightly and truly prepared for final
passage, were severally passed to be enacted and were signed by the President and laid before the
Governor for his approbation, to wit:
Relative to the charter of the town of Walpole (see Senate, No. 956);
Allowing certain municipal employees to serve as city councillors (see House, No. 3719,
amended); and
Relative to adoption and promoting the welfare of children (see House, No. 3965,
amended).
The House Order relative to the appointment of a joint special committee to make an
investigation and study of a new division of the Commonwealth into Congressional districts in
conformity with law; forty Senatorial districts and eight Executive Councillor districts; and one
hundred and sixty Representative districts (House, No. 4220) (having been approved by the
committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently),— was adopted, in
concurrence.
On motion of Mr. Knapik, at twenty-six minutes before seven o'clock P.M., the Senate adjourned to meet on the following Thursday at eleven o'clock A.M.