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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. |
Wednesday, September 29, 1999.
Met at three minutes past eleven o'clock A.M.
The following reports were severally read and placed on file:
A report of the special commission established to make an investigation and study of low income
housing in the city of Lowell (under the provisions of Chapter 257 of the Acts of 1998, as
amended by Chapter 475 of the Acts of 1998) submitting a report of its findings (received
Friday, April 16, 1999);
A report of the Executive Office of Administration and Finance (under the provisions of Section
9 of Chapter 48 of the Acts of 1997) submitting a revised amortization schedule for the former
Hampshire County (received Friday, September 24, 1999); and
A report of the Bureau of Special Investigations (under the provisions of Section 15D(6) of
Chapter 22 of the General Laws) submitting a report of its activities for the month of August,
1999 (received Monday, September 27, 1999).
Petitions were presented and referred, as follows:
By Ms. Creem, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Barbara Grover, Cynthia S. Creem and
Brian P. Golden for legislation relative to studying emergency aid to the elderly, disabled, and
children;
By Mr. Glodis, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Guy W. Glodis and John J. Binienda for
legislation relative to the termination of visitation rights;
By Mr. Moore, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Richard T. Moore, Therese Murray,
Charles E. Shannon, Stephen M. Brewer and other members of the General Court for legislation
to require adequate notice to Medicare patients by Massachusetts physicians; and
By Mr. Shannon, a petition (subject to Joint Rule 12) of Charles E. Shannon for legislation
relative to telephone company fees for elevator emergency telephone use;
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 petition, a Bill creating LEAP: Learning and Earning for Parents (Senate, No. 232);
and
By Mr. Joyce, for the committee on Public Service, on petition, a Bill to restructure the Group
Insurance Commission (Senate, No. 697);
Severally read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and
Means.
By Mr. Bernstein, for the committee on Insurance, on petition, a Bill allowing for the sale of
innovative insurance and financial planning products (Senate No. 1996);
Read and, under Senate Rule 26, referred to the committee on Steering and Policy.
Mr. Brewer, for the committee on Steering and Policy, reported that the following matters be
placed in the Orders of the Day for the next session:
The Senate Bill relative to the Whittier Regional School District Committee (Senate, No. 1218);
and
The House bills
Relative to the construction and maintenance of the statewide Vietnam veterans memorial at
Green Hill Park in the city of Worcester (House, No. 4481); and
Relative to dangerous dogs (House, No. 4750).
Ms. Melconian, for the committees on Rules of the two branches,
acting concurrently, reported, asking to be discharged from further consideration of the Senate
Order relative to authorizing the joint committee on Education, Arts and Humanities to sit during
the recess of the General Court for the purpose of making an investigation and study of certain
current documents relative to educational matters (Senate, No. 1995),— and recommending
that the same be referred to the Senate committee on Rules.
Under Senate Rule 36, the report was considered forthwith and accepted.
PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE.
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House No. 4773) of Kevin G. Honan (with the approval of the
mayor and city council) relative to the registration of bicycle messengers in the city of
Boston;
To the committee on Public Safety.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House No. 4774) of Kevin G. Honan
and John H. Rogers (with the approval of the mayor and city council) that the retirement board of
the city of Boston be authorized to grant certain creditable service to Carol J. McCarthy of
Norwood, a school teacher for said city; and
Petition (accompanied by bill, House No. 4775) of Peter J. Koutoujian, Ruth B. Balser, Rachel
Kaprielian, Kay Khan, Cynthia S. Creem and another (with the approval of the mayor and board
of aldermen) relative to the protection of accidental death benefits for surviving unmarried
children of deceased fire fighters of the city of Newton;
Severally to the committee on Public Service.
A Bill relative to the harbormaster, assistant harbormasters, shellfish warden and assistant
shellfish wardens of the town of Fairhaven (House, No. 4449,— on petition) [Local
approval received],— was 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. 3280) of Marie J. Parente
and other members of the House relative to the licensure and regulation of au pair and nanny
agencies by the Office of Child Care Services, and recommending that the same be referred to
the House committee on Ways and Means,— was considered forthwith, under Senate
Rule 36, and accepted, in concurrence, inasmuch as relates to the discharge of the joint
committee.
The following resolutions (having been filed with the Clerk) were
severally considered forthwith and adopted, as follows:—
Resolutions (filed by Ms. Creem, Mr. Glodis, Ms. Resor, Ms. Wilkerson, Ms. Tucker, Mr.
Tolman, Mrs. Sprague, Ms. Jacques, Mr. Morrissey, Ms. Fargo and Messrs. Pacheco and
Magnani) "honoring Susan D. Schur";
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Pacheco) "congratulating David Paulson of Taunton upon his elevation
to the rank of Eagle Scout";
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Pacheco) "memorializing that the President of the United States and
the U. S. Congress act boldly to secure that East Timor triumphantly transitions to independence
by seeking the prompt ratification by the Indonesian National Assembly of the East Timorese's
referendum vote, by freezing all U. S. aid until the people of East Timor are free from militia
violence, her refugees have returned, and the Indonesian military terminates its support for the
pro-Indonesian militias and has completely withdrawn from East Timor (Timor Loro Sae), and
by leading the humanitarian effort to help the East Timorese people in their time of great
need";
Resolutions (filed by Mr. Rauschenbach) "honoring Ahmed A. Mustafa for 38 years of dedicated
service service to the Commonwealth";
Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Sprague) "congratulating Judith Cohen on the occasion of her
retirement"; and
Resolutions (filed by Mrs. Sprague) "congratulating Tyler Marshall Leeds of Medfield upon his
elevation to the rank of Eagle Scout."
PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE.
Emergency Preamble Adopted.
An engrossed Bill providing for the annual observance of October as
Italian-American Heritage Month (see House, No. 4751, 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 wa signed by the President and sent to the House for enactment.
By Mr. Birmingham, for the committees on Rules of the two branches,
acting concurrently, that Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the Senate petition of Raymond V.
Mariano, mayor, Thomas R. Hoover, city manager, Robert A. Bernstein and Guy W. Glodis
(with the approval of the city council) for legislation relative to provisional employees in the city
of Worcester [Local approval received].
Senate Rule 36 was suspended, on motion of Ms. Murray, and the report was considered
forthwith. Joint Rule 12 was suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill) was referred to
the committee on Public Service.
By Mr. Birmingham, for the committees on Rules of the two branches, acting concurrently, that
Joint Rule 12 be suspended on the Senate petition of Richard T. Moore, David L. Flynn,
Christine E. Canavan and Marc R. Pacheco for legislation to authorize the Massachusetts
highway department to install certain signs regarding Bridgewater State College.
Senate Rule 36 was suspended, on motion of Ms. Murray, and the report was considered
forthwith. Joint Rule 12 was suspended; and the petition (accompanied by bill) was referred to
the committee on Transportation.
Severally sent to the House for concurrence.
PAPERS FROM THE HOUSE.
Petitions were referred, in concurrence, as follows:
Petition (accompanied by bill, House No. 4783) of Paul E. Caron and other members of the
General Court relative to the notification of employees in the event of termination of group
health insurance coverage;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Insurance.
Petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 4782) of Rachel Kaprielian
(with the approval of the town council) for legislation to make certain changes in the charter of
the city known as the town of Watertown;
Under suspension of Joint Rule 12, to the committee on Local Affairs.
There being no objection, the following matters were taken out of the
Orders of the Day and considered, as follows:
The House bills
Authorizing the town of Dennis to establish a capital improvements fund (House No.
4415);
Relative to the charter of the town of Yarmouth (House, No. 4416); and
Relative to the conservation commission of the town of Weston (House, No. 4628);
Were severally read a second time, ordered to a third reading, read a third time and passed to
be engrossed, in concurrence.
Mr. Brewer, 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 relative to disclosure of information to the state police violent fugitive arrest
squad (House, No. 130).
The rules were suspended, on motion of Ms. Wilkerson, and the bill was read a second time
and ordered to a third reading.
There being no objection, at eleven minutes past eleven o'clock A.M.,
the President declared a recess subject to the call of the Chair; and, at twenty-four minutes before
five o'clock P.M., the Senate reassembled, the President in the Chair.
PAPER FROM THE HOUSE.
A Bill making certain appropriations for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2000, prior to final action on the General Appropriation Bill for said fiscal year (printed in House, No 4768,— being a message from His Excellency the Governor),— was read and, under Senate Rule 27, referred to the committee on Ways and Means.
On motion of Mr. Birmingham,—
Ordered, That when the Senate adjourns today, it adjourn to meet again tomorrow at one
o'clock P.M.
On motion of Mr. Birmingham, at twenty-three minutes before five o'clock P.M., the Senate
adjourned to meet on the following day at one o'clock P.M.