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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. |
Thursday, May 28, 1998.
Met according to adjournment, at eleven o'clock A.M. (Mr. Norton in the Chair).
A communication was received from the President announcing the appointment of Senators Nuciforo and Fargo to serve on the steering committee of the Legislative Children's Caucus. The communication was placed on file.
Mr. Morrissey presented a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Michael W. Morrissey, A. Stephen Tobin, Ronald Mariano and Sergeant Robert M. Perchard for legislation to increase the penalties for certain crimes relative to the procuring of alcohol by minors,— and the same was referred, under Senate Rule 20, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.
By Mr. Rosenberg, for the committee on Ways and Means, that the
House Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 1999 for the maintenance of the
departments, boards, commissions, institutions and certain activities of the Commonwealth, for
interest, sinking fund and serial bond requirements and for certain permanent improvements
(House, No. 5501, printed as amended), ought to pass, with an amendment.
Striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of Senate
document numbered 1999; and by striking out the emergency preamble and inserting in place
thereof the following emergency preamble:
"Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is
immediately to make appropriations for the fiscal year beginning July 1, 1998, and to make
certain changes in law, each of which is immediately necessary or appropriate to effectuate said
appropriations or for other important public purposes, therefore it is hereby declared to be an
emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience."
ªDirect
Appropriation:
$ 18,714,534,178
Retained Revenue
Authorization: $ 799,858,798
Total:
$ 19,514,392,977|.
ªNote: The report was filed in the Office of the Clerk of the Senate on Wednesday, May
27|.
Referred, under Senate Rule 26, to the committee on Steering and Policy.
Subsequently, Mr. Berry, for the said committee on Steering and Policy, reported that the
matter be placed in the Orders of the Day for Tuesday, June 2, pursuant to the provisions of
Senate Rule 27A.
By Mr. Keating, for the committee on the Judiciary, on the
recommitted petition, a Bill relative to assessment of costs and attorneys' fees in interlocutory
appeals (Senate, No. 845);
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on the recommitted petition (accompanied by bill,
Senate, No. 926), a Bill relative to mechanic's liens for labor and material (Senate, No.
2226);
By Ms. Pines, for the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture, on petition
(accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2171), a Bill creating an exotic aquatic species plant control
program (Senate, No. 2227); and
By Mr. Moore, for the committee on Public Service, on petition, a Bill establishing a sick leave
bank for John B. Kelly, Jr., an employee of the Norfolk Sheriff's Department (Senate, No.
2213);
Severally read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and
Means.
By Mr. Moore, for the committee on Public Service, on petition, a Bill
relative to the appointment of Joseph Jackson, Jr., and Thomas F. Bamberry, Jr., to the fire
department of the city of Quincy (Senate, No. 2221) ªLocal approval received|;
Read and, under Senate Rule 26, placed in the Orders of the Day for the next
session.
A Bill relative to liability insurance for day care facilities (House, No. 5344,— on House, No. 2119),— was read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and Means.
Bills
Relative to school bus inspections (House, No. 2360,— on petition); and
Relative to an advisory committee of the Department of Mental Health (House, No.
2492,— on petition);
Were severally read and, under Senate Rule 26, referred to the committee on Steering and
Policy.
Bills
Authorizing the imposition of fees for the employment of certain outside consultants by the town
of East Longmeadow (House, No. 2719,— on petition) ªLocal approval received|;
Authorizing the town of Marshfield to establish a land acquisition fund (House, No.
5223,— on petition) ªLocal approval received|; and
Authorizing the town of North Reading to convey certain conservation land (House, No.
5473,— on petition) ªLocal approval received|;
Were severally read and, under Senate Rule 26, placed in the Orders of the Day for the next
session.
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5543) of Colleen M. Garry (by vote of the town) that
the town of Tyngsborough be authorized to issue an additional license for the sale of all
alcoholic beverages to be drunk on the premises to NE Restaurant Company, Incorporated;
To the committee on Government Regulations.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5544) of John A. Lepper
and Cheryl A. Jacques (with the approval of the mayor and municipal council) that the
retirement board of the city of Attleboro be authorized to grant a disability retirement pension
under the "heart law", so-called to police captain Walter L. Heagney, Jr.; and
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5545) of Pamela P. Resor and Robert A. Durand (by
vote of the town) for legislation to exempt the position of chief of police in the town of Acton
from the provisions of civil service law;
Severally to the committee on Public Service.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5546) of Cele Hahn and
Michael R. Knapik (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the city of Westfield
be authorized to abate and refund certain property taxes to Lawrence G. Talbot of said
town;
To the committee on Taxation.
A message from His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor (under Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution) recommending legislation relative to the annual town meeting held in the town of Carver in 1998 (House, No. 5539),— was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Local Affairs.
Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Amorello and Bernstein) "congratulating
Dr. Norman G. Limoges on the occasion of his retirement as Superintendent of the Leicester
Public Schools", 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. Knapik, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Clancy) "honoring Bernard J. Fennell", 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. Knapik, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Durand) "honoring William J. Bisset upon
his retirement from Hudson High School", 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. Knapik, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Durand) "honoring Thomas W. McAuliffe
for his many years of public service and community involvement in the town of Southborough",
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. Knapik, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Keating) "commending Massachusetts Legal
Assistance Corporation for its commitment to expanding civil legal services to needy residents
of Massachusetts", 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. Knapik, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Lees) "honoring Harold J. 'Hal' Martin on
the occasion of being named District Governor of Lions Club International District 33-Y", 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. Knapik, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Pacheco) "honoring Joan M. Walsh for her
twenty years of dedicated service as Superintendent of the Old Rochester Regional School
District", 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. Knapik, and adopted.
Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Tolman, Creedon, Lynch and Ms.
Wilkerson) "honoring Dean Aviam Soifer of Boston College Law School", 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. Knapik, and adopted.
There being no objection, the following matters were taken out of the Orders of the Day and considered, as follows:
The Senate Bill validating the action taken at an annual town meeting
of the town of Brookline (printed in Senate, No. 2198),— was read a second time,
ordered to a third reading, read a third time and passed to be engrossed.
Sent to the House for concurrence.
The House Bill exempting certain employees of the city of Westfield from the civil service law (House, No. 5231, changed),— was read a second time, ordered to a third reading, read a third time and passed to be engrossed, in concurrence, its title having been changed by the committee on Bills in the Third Reading to read as follows: "An Act exempting certain positions in the city of Westfield from the civil service law."
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 Mr. Norton, Acting President,
and laid before the Acting Governor for his approbation, to wit:
Relative to proceedings for the foreclosure of mortgages under the Soldiers' and Sailors' Civil
Relief Act (see Senate, No. 14, changed); and
Providing for certain insurance benefits for cancer patients (see House, No. 5190).
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House No. 5552) of Evelyn G. Chesky and other members of the
General Court for legislation to authorize the sale of lottery tickets at the Soldiers' Home in
Holyoke;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Government Regulations.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House No. 5553) of Nancy Flavin and
Michael R. Knapik that the Registrar of Motor Vehicles be authorized to issue distinctive license
plates bearing the words "First U.S. Auto";
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Public Safety.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House No. 5554) of Shaun P. Kelly and
Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr., for legislation to authorize the Division of Capital Planning and
Operations to grant a certain permanent easement to the town of Hinsdale for the purpose of
providing sewer service to the area surrounding Ashmere Lake;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on State Administration.
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
and Theodore C. Speliotis for legislation to authorize the Division of Capital Planning and
Operations to convey a certain parcel of land in the town of Danvers.
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 State Administration.
Sent to the House for concurrence.
By Mr. Rosenberg, for the committee on Ways and Means, that the
House Bill making appropriations for the fiscal year 1998 to provide for certain capital and
supplemental appropriations (House, No. 5427), ought to pass, with amendments:
Striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text of Senate
document numbered 2225; and by inserting before the enacting clause the following emergency
preamble:
"Whereas, The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is
forthwith to make appropriations for various capital improvements and other one time costs and
to make certain changes in law, each of which is immediately necessary or appropriate to
effectuate said appropriations or for other important public purposes, therefore it is hereby
declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public
convenience".
There being no objection, the rules were suspended, on motion of Mr. Moore, and the bill
was read a second time and was amended, as recommended by the committee on Ways and
Means. The bill, as amended, was then ordered to a third reading.
Ms. Melconian offered the following order, to wit:
Ordered, That, notwithstanding the provisions of any rule to the contrary, full
consideration, without delay, shall be allowed on the House Bill making appropriations for the
fiscal year 1998 to provide for certain capital and supplemental appropriations (House, No.
5427), when said matter comes before the Senate. The bill will be before the Senate on or after
June 2. All amendments, offered by members, must be filed in the Senate Clerk's Office no later
than five o'clock P.M. on Friday, May 29.
There being no objection, the order was considered forthwith, and adopted.
The Chair (Mr. Norton) introduced former Senator William Q. MacLean, Jr. Former Senator MacLean was a guest of Senate Majority Leader Thomas C. Norton.
At ten minutes past eleven o'clock A.M., the Chair (Mr. Norton) declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and, at fourteen minutes before twelve o'clock noon, the Senate reassembled, Mr. Norton in the Chair.
The following House Order (approved by the committees on Rules of
the two branches, acting concurrently) was considered forthwith, and adopted, in concurrence, to
wit:
Ordered, That, notwithstanding the provisions of Joint Rule 10, the committee on Local
Affairs be granted until Friday, December 18, 1998, within which time to make its final report
on a Senate document numbered 988; and House documents numbered 5213 and 5388.
The following House Order (approved by the committees on Rules of
the two branches, acting concurrently) was considered forthwith, and adopted, in concurrence, to
wit:
Ordered, That, notwithstanding the provisions of Joint Rule 10, the committee on
Human Services and Elderly Affairs be granted until Monday, June 29, 1998 within which to
make its final report on current Senate document numbered 2170, relative to a community care
ombudsman and current House document numbered 5488, relative to the regulation of the au
pair industry.
An engrossed Bill making certain corrective changes in certain general
and special laws (see Senate, No. 2101), 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 Mr. Norton, Acting President, and sent to the House for
enactment.
At twelve minutes before twelve o'clock noon, the Chair (Mr. Norton) declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and, at thirteen minutes past twelve o'clock noon, the Senate reassembled, the President in the Chair.
An engrossed Bill validating the action taken at an annual town meeting of the town of Brookline (see Senate Bill, printed in Senate, No. 2198) (which originated in the Senate), 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.
On motion of Mr. Knapik,—
Ordered, That when the Senate adjourns today, it adjourn to meet again on Monday 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. Knapik, at fourteen minutes past twelve o'clock noon, the Senate adjourned to meet on the following Monday at eleven o'clock A.M.