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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, June 29, 1998.
Met at two minutes past eleven o'clock A.M. (Ms. Melconian in the Chair) (having been appointed by the President, under authority conferred by Senate Rule 4, to perform the duties of the Chair).
Mr. Keating presented a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of William R. Keating and Barbara C. Hyland for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Margaret Haarer, an employee of the Department of Mental Retardation,— and the same was referred, under Senate Rule 20, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.
Mr. Clancy presented a petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No.
2251) of Edward J. Clancy, Jr., Steven Angelo and Brian M. Cresta (by vote of the town) for
legislation to authorize the town of Lynnfield to convey certain land,— and the same
was referred, under Senate Rule 20, to the committee on State Administration.
Sent to the House for concurrence.
By Mr. Keating, for the committee on the Judiciary, on petition
(accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 2232), an Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on
the Judiciary to sit during the recess of the General Court for the purpose of making an
investigation and study of Senate document numbered 2232, relative to review of divorce orders
(Senate, No. 2249);
Referred, under Joint Rule 29, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
concurrently.
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Brewer) "in recognition of the Massachusetts
4-H All-Star Delta Chapter's contribution to the prosperity and the young people of the
commonwealth", were referred, under the rule, to the committee on Rules.
Subsequently, Mr. Clancy, 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 Ms. Fargo, and adopted.
Notice was received that the Speaker had announced that Representative Cresta of Wakefield had been appointed to the eleventh position on the committee on Insurance to fill an existing vacancy.
Bills
Relative to group insurance coverage for surviving children of certain police officers and
firefighters (House, No. 1791,— on petition); and
Relative to early intervention programs for injured public employees (House, No. 5020,—
on House, No. 4965);
Were severally read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and
Means.
A Bill relative to the granting of immunity (House, No. 5651,— being a new draft of Senate, No. 844),— was read and, under Senate Rule 26, referred to the committee on Steering and Policy.
A message from His Honor the Lieutenant-Governor, Acting Governor (under the provisions of Section 8 of Article LXXXIX of the Amendments to the Constitution) recommending legislation relative to validating the acts and proceedings of the annual and special town meetings held in the town of Stoughton on May 5, 1997 (House, No. 5640),— was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on Local Affairs.
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5657) of Pamela P. Resor and other members of the
General Court relative to regulating diet companies engaged in the business of selling products
or services promoting weight loss;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Commerce and Labor.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5641) of Philip Travis and
William R. Keating (by vote of the town) relative to the regulation of dogs in the town of
Seekonk;
To the committee on Counties.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5658) of Charles E.
Shannon and other members of the General Court for legislation to designate the law regulating
the prosecution of violent juvenile offenders as the Kenny Claudio and Janet Downing
Act;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Criminal Justice.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5642) of Christopher J.
Hodgkins and Andrea F. Nuciforo, Jr. (by vote of the town) relative to recall elections in the
town of Sheffield;
To the committee on Election Laws.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5643) of William G.
Greene, Jr., and Robert A. Havern (by vote of the town) that the town of Billerica be authorized
to reimburse Joseph L. Dougherty a certain sum of money for legal expenses incurred by him in
a suit against said town;
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5644) of William G. Greene, Jr., and Robert A.
Havern (by vote of the town) relative to authorizing the town of Billerica to refund certain
taxes;
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5645) of Mary Jeanette Murray and Robert L.
Hedlund (by vote of the town) that the town of Hull be authorized to establish a special
education tuition and expenses fund; and
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5646) of Matthew J. Amorello and George N.
Peterson, Jr. (by vote of the town) that the town of Grafton be authorized to lease a certain
parcel of open space recreation land to the Grafton Water District;
Severally to the committee on Local Affairs.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 5659) of Robert Correia,
Thomas C. Norton, David B. Sullivan and Michael J. Rodrigues for legislation to establish a
memorial for members of the armed forces who died in the Persian Gulf Conflict;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on State Administration.
By Mr. Clancy, for the committees on Rules of the two branches,
acting concurrently, that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the Senate petition of Gurdon S. Buck
for legislation to allow the owner of a residential property to install separate water meters to
measure the flow of water to each individual dwelling unit.
Senate Rule 36 was suspended, on motion of Mr. Bernstein, and the report was considered
forthwith. Joint Rule 12 was suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill) was referred to
the committee on Housing and Urban Development.
By Mr. Clancy, for the committees on Rules of the two branches,
acting concurrently, that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the Senate petition of Susan C. Fargo,
John H. Rogers, Robert E. Travaglini, Warren E. Tolman and other members of the General
Court for legislation to protect patient confidentiality.
Senate Rule 36 was suspended, on motion of Mr. Bernstein, and the report was considered
forthwith. Joint Rule 12 was suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill) was referred to
the committee on the Judiciary.
Severally sent to the House for concurrence.
Mr. Keating presented the following order, to wit:
Ordered, That, notwithstanding the provisions of Joint Rule 10, the committee on the
Judiciary be granted until July 15, 1998 within which to make its final report on current House
documents numbered 5616 and 5637.
The order was considered forthwith, and adopted.
Sent to the House for concurrence.
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, joint standing
committees and the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, be granted
until Wednesday, July 1, 1998, within which to make reports on all matters referred to
them.
An engrossed Bill exempting certain positions in the city of West field from the civil service law (see House, No. 5231, changed) (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 and was signed by the Acting President and laid before the Acting Governor for his approbation.
There being no objection, the following matter was taken out of the
Orders of the Day and considered, as follows:
The House Bill relative to the charter of the town of Greenfield (House, No. 5381),—
was read a third time and passed to be engrossed, in concurrence.
The Clerk read the following communication:
COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS
MASSACHUSETTS SENATE
STATE HOUSE, BOSTON 02133
June 26, 1998.
Mr. Edward B. O'Neill
Clerk of the Massachusetts Senate
State House, Room 335
Boston, Massachusetts 02133-1053
Dear Mr. Clerk:
Due to a long-standing commitment, I was unable to attend the Senate session of Thursday, June
25, 1998. Had I been present, I would have voted accordingly on the following matters:
Sincerely,
ROBERT L. HEDLUND,
State Senator,
Plymouth and Norfolk District.
On motion of Mr. Moore, the above statement was ordered printed in the Journal of the Senate.
At ten minutes past eleven o'clock A.M., the Chair (Ms. Melconian) declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and, at two minutes before three o'clock P.M., the Senate reassembled, Ms. Melconian in the Chair.
On motion of Mr. Tisei,—
Ordered, That when the Senate adjourns today, it adjourn to meet again tomorrow at
eleven o'clock A.M., and that the Clerk be directed to dispense with the printing of a
calendar.
On motion of Mr. Tisei, at three o'clock P.M., the Senate adjourned to meet on the following day at eleven o'clock A.M.