|
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, April 13, 1998.
Met at three minutes past eleven o'clock A.M.
Petitions were presented and referred, as follows:
By Mr. Nuciforo, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., for legislation
to authorize the sale of alcoholic beverages not to be drunk on the premises on Sundays and
legal holidays; and
By the same Senator, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., for
legislation to authorize the simulcasting of live horse racing in Berkshire county;
Severally, under Senate Rule 20, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
concurrently.
By Mr. Moore, for the committee on Public Service, on petition
(accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2159), an Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on
Public Service to sit during the recess of the General Court for the purpose of making an
investigation and study of Senate document numbered 2159, relative to options on retirement
(Senate, No. 2175);
Referred, under Joint Rule 29, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
concurrently.
Mr. Berry, for the committee on Steering and Policy, reported that the
following matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session:
The House Bill providing protection for certain retirement accounts (House, No. 1355).
A Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 1998 to provide for certain capital and supplemental appropriations (House, No. 5427, printed as amended,— on House, Nos. 5266, App. A and 5267, App. B),— was read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and Means.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Brewer) "congratulating Charles E. Grout for
his many years of volunteerism service to the community and to veterans", were referred, under
the rule, to the committee on Rules.
Subsequently, Mr. Norton, for the said committee, reported, recommending that the
resolutions ought to be adopted; and they were considered forthwith, under a suspension of the
rules, moved by Mr. Brewer, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Keating) "congratulating Margaret F. Myers
on the occasion of her retirement from the Norton school committee", were referred, under the
rule, to the committee on Rules.
Subsequently, Mr. Norton, for the said committee, reported, recommending that the
resolutions ought to be adopted; and they were considered forthwith, under a suspension of the
rules, moved by Mr. Brewer, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Moore) "honoring the Milford High School
Scarlet Hawks' varsity basketball team on winning the 1998 Central/Western Massachusetts
Division 1 Championship", were referred, under the rule, to the committee on Rules.
Subsequently, Mr. Norton, for the said committee, reported, recommending that the
resolutions ought to be adopted; and they were considered forthwith, under a suspension of the
rules, moved by Mr. Brewer, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Pacheco) "congratulating the Sacred Heart
Parish upon the celebration of its one hundred twenty-fifth anniversary", were referred, under
the rule, to the committee on Rules.
Subsequently, Mr. Norton, for the said committee, reported, recommending that the
resolutions ought to be adopted; and they were considered forthwith, under a suspension of the
rules, moved by Mr. Brewer, and adopted.
An engrossed Bill relative to certain betterment assessments in the town of Granby (see House Bill, printed in House, No. 5330) (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 Acting Governor for his approbation.
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5431) of Evelyn G. Chesky, Michael R. Knapik and
Walter A. DeFilippi (with the approval of the mayor and city council) relative to establishing
senior citizen safety zones in the city of Holyoke;
To the committee on Local Affairs.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5436) of Paul C. Casey and other members of the
House for legislation to provide for the design, construction and equipping of a headquarters and
training facility for the Department of Fire Services in the town of Stow;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Public Safety.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5437) of Kevin L. Finnegan and other members of the
General Court for the issuance of an annual proclamation by the Governor setting apart the last
Sunday in September as Gold Star Parents Day;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on State Administration.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5438) of Colleen M. Garry relative to tax deductions
for certain working families with children;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Taxation.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5439) of Joan M. Menard and Thomas C. Norton for
legislation to designate the bridge on state highway Route 6 over the Taunton River between the
town of Somerset and the city of Fall River as the Arthur "Chick" Marchand Memorial
Bridge;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Transportation.
By Mr. Norton, for the committees on Rules of the two branches,
acting concurrently, that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the Senate petition of Frederick E. Berry
for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Sandra Norfolk, an employee of the Department
of Mental Retardation.
Senate Rule 36 was suspended, on motion of Ms. Fargo, and the report was considered
forthwith. Joint Rule 12 was suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
2190) was referred to the committee on Public Service.
By Mr. Norton, for the committees on Rules of the two branches,
acting concurrently, that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the Senate petition of Michael W.
Morrissey and Michael G. Bellotti for legislation to increase the real estate tax abatement for
senior citizens.
Senate Rule 36 was suspended, on motion of Ms. Fargo, and the report was considered
forthwith. Joint Rule 12 was suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill) was referred to
the committee on Taxation.
Severally sent to the House for concurrence.
There being no objection, the following matters were taken out of the
Orders of the Day and considered, as follows:
The House Bill relative to the provision of natural gas service in the town of Wakefield (printed
in House, No. 5060),— was read a second time, ordered to a third reading, read a third
time and passed to be engrossed, in concurrence.
The House Bill transferring control of a certain parcel of park land in the city of Holyoke (House, No. 5237),— was read a second time, ordered to a third reading, read a third time and passed to be engrossed, in concurrence.
The following engrossed bills (both of which originated in the House),
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 Acting
Governor for his approbation, to wit:
Relative to the Buzzards Bay Water District (see House, No. 5076, amended); and
Authorizing the city of Fall River retirement board to increase the pension payable to retired
firefighter Walter Nicolau (see House, No. 5111, amended).
An engrossed Bill establishing the office of town accountant in the town of Plympton (see House Bill, printed in House, No. 5200) (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 Acting Governor for his approbation.
An engrossed Bill authorizing the suspension of certain labor laws in
an emergency (see Senate, No. 1862, 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 3 to 0.
The bill was signed by the President and sent to the House for enactment.
On motion of Mr. Norton,—
Ordered, That when the Senate adjourns today, it adjourn to meet again on Wednesday
next at eleven o'clock A.M., and that the Clerk be directed to dispense with the printing of a
calendar.
On motion of Mr. Lees, at eleven minutes past eleven o'clock A.M., the Senate adjourned to meet on the following Wednesday at eleven o'clock A.M.