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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, July 8, 1999.
Met at five minutes past eleven o'clock A.M.
The following reports were severally read and placed on file:
A report of the Department of Telecommunications and Energy (under the provisions of Section
193 of Chapter 164 of the Acts of 1997) submitting a report on the growth for the past year of
cogeneration, renewable energy and other on-site generation facilities (received Friday, July 2,
1999); and
A report of the Department of Telecommunications and Energy (under the provisions of Section
1E(d) of Chapter 164 of the General Laws) submitting its biannual report on mediation claims
(received Tuesday, July 6, 1999).
A petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 1762) of Bruce E. Tarr and Anthony J. Verga (with the approval of the city council) for legislation relative to the charter of the city of Gloucester,— was placed on file.
[The petition, having been filed in the office of the Clerk of the Senate
on March 22, 1999, did not contain the approval of the mayor, and the Senate, by order (Senate,
No. 1764), requested the opinions of the Honorable the Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court
concerning the validity of the local approval. On Wednesday, June 30, 1999, the Honorable the
Justices of the Supreme Judicial Court responded that the petition (Senate, No. 1762) did not
meet the Constitutional requirement of local approval as it did not contain the signature of the
mayor [for opinions, see Senate, No. 1919].]
Mr. Jajuga presented a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of James P. Jajuga for legislation relative to retirement benefits for John O'Brien,— and the same was referred, under Senate Rule 20, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently.
By Mr. Creedon, for the committee on the Judiciary, on Senate, Nos.
252 and 278, 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
documents numbered 252 and 278, relative to criminal record information and parental
responsibility (Senate, No. 1931);
Referred, under Joint Rule 29, to the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting
concurrently.
By Mr. Morrissey, for the committee on Government Regulations, on petition, a Bill providing
for the safer distribution and delivery of natural gas (Senate, No. 397, changed in section 1, by
striking out, in lines 5 and 6, the words "companies and public utilities companies as defined in
section three of chapter 25" and inserting in place thereof the following words:—
"companies, public utilities companies or entities which perform such work for said natural gas
pipeline, cable television and public utilities companies");
By Mr. Moore, for the committee on Health Care, on Senate, Nos. 346 and 506 and House, No.
1937, a Bill relative to providing additional information about physicians (Senate, No.
346);
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on Senate, No. 440 and House, Nos. 1951 and
2699, a Bill relative to public hospitals (Senate, No. 440);
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on petition, a Bill ensuring the safety and
protection of hospital patients (Senate, No. 469);
By Mr. Panagiotakos, for the committee on Housing and Urban Development, on petition, a Bill
designating the Pleasure Bay Lagoon in South Boston as the John E. Powers Lagoon (Senate,
No. 1805);
By Mr. Pacheco, for the committee on Natural Resources and Agriculture, on petition, a Bill
relative to the retail sale of live fishing bait in plastic containers (Senate, No. 1038); and
By Mr. Joyce, for the committee on Public Service, on petition, a Bill to define "a person" for
retirement purposes (Senate, No. 1296);
Severally read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and
Means.
By Mr. Lynch, for the committee on Commerce and Labor, on petition, a Bill relative to the
refusal to reissue a credit card (Senate, No. 20);
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on petition, a Bill relative to fairness in credit
reporting (Senate, No. 91);
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on petition, a Bill to clarify employer sanctions for
improper expenditure of withholdings or deductions from wages (Senate, No. 92);
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on petition, a Bill relative to negative option
mailings (Senate, No. 98);
By the same Senator, for the same committee, on petition (accompanied by bill, Senate, No. 64),
a Bill relative to the Boston Police Relief Association (Senate, No. 1898); and
By Ms. Creem, for the committee on Criminal Justice, on petition, a Bill relative to the rights of
victims of crimes (Senate, No. 184);
Severally read and, under Senate Rule 26, referred to the committee on Steering and
Policy.
PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE.
A message from His Excellency the Governor recommending legislation relative to protecting the Commonwealth from paying excessive attorneys' fees (House, No. 4499),— was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on State Administration.
A petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4500) of Mark J. Carron and Richard T. Moore (by
vote of the town) that the town of Charlton be authorized to expend certain funds from the debt
service reserve fund of said town, — was referred, in concurrence, to the committee on
Taxation.
A Bill designating a certain interchange in the city of Woburn as the James McKeown
Interchange (House, No. 2257,— on petition),— was read and, under Senate Rule
26, referred to the committee on Steering and Policy.
Bills
Relative to the salary of the mayor of Medford (House, No. 4428,— on petition) [Local
approval received]; and
Authorizing the town of Milford to issue an additional license for the sale of all alcoholic
beverages to be drunk on the premises (House, No. 4440,— on petition) [Local approval
received];
Were severally read and, under Senate Rule 26, placed in the Orders of the Day for the next
session.
A report of the committee on Human Services and Elderly Affairs, asking to be discharged from
further consideration of the petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4459) of Mary Jane
Simmons relative to periodic statements of child support payments received by the Division of
Child Support Enforcement, and recommending that the same be referred to the committee on
Taxation,— was considered forthwith, under Senate Rule 36, and accepted, in
concurrence.
The following resolutions (having been filed with the Clerk) were
severally considered forthwith and adopted, as follows:—
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Bernstein) "congratulating Doctor John P. Gusha on the occasion of his
retirement";
Resolutions (filed by Ms. Jacques) "congratulating Doctor Larry R. Clausen on the occasion of
his retirement as President of the New England College of Optometry";
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Morrissey) "commending John Joseph Daneu for his dedicated service
in the United States Navy";
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Morrissey) "congratulating Officer Robert Smith upon his retirement
from the Braintree Police Department"; and
Resolutions (filed by Messrs. Tolman and Jajuga, Ms. Wilkerson, Mr. Shannon, Ms. Melconian,
Messrs. Clancy and Nuciforo, Ms. Murray, Mr. Berry, Ms. Fargo, Mr. Glodis, Ms. Creem,
Messrs. Havern, Norton and Creedon, Ms. Tucker, Ms. Jacques, Mr. Bernstein, Mrs. Sprague
and Messrs. Lynch and Morrissey "condemning the murder of human rights lawyer Rosemary
Nelson and calling for the protection of defense attorneys in Northern Ireland."
PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE.
The House Bill relative to the sex offender registry (House, No.
4387),— came from the House with the endorsement that the House had NON-concurred in
the Senate amendments:
Striking out all after the enacting clause and inserting in place thereof the text contained in
Senate document numbered 1930; and striking out the title and inserting in place thereof the
following title: "An Act improving the sex offender registry and establishing civil commitment
and community parole supervision for life for sex offenders.", and had asked for a committee of
conference on the disagreeing votes of the two branches; and that Representatives Haley of
Weymouth, Tobin of Quincy and Finnegan of Newburyport had been appointed the committee
on the part of the House.
On motion of Ms. Melconian, the Senate insisted on its amendment and concurred in the
appointment of a committee of conference; and Senators Bernstein, Creem and Knapik were
appointed on the part of the Senate.
The bill was returned to the House endorsed accordingly.
An engrossed Bill further extending the time for which certain land in Norfolk County may be used as a temporary minimum security alternative correction center (see House, No. 4419, amended) (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 President and laid before the Governor for his approbation.
A petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4523) of Kevin G. Honan and other members of the
General Court relative to granting retirement credit to certain teachers for service performed in
nonpublic schools,— was referred, in concurrence, under suspension of Joint Rule 12,
to the committee on Public Service.
On motion of Ms. Murray, Senate Rule 20 and Joint Rule 12 were
suspended on the petition, presented by Mr. Creedon (accompanied by bill) of Robert S.
Creedon, Jr., for legislation to establish a sick leave bank for Lawrence Waithe, an employee of
the Trial Court,—and the same was referred to the committee on the Judiciary.
On motion of Ms. Melconian,—
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. Tarr, at nine minutes past eleven o'clock A.M., the Senate adjourned to meet
on the following Monday at eleven o'clock A.M.