State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
Journal of the Senate
JANUARY SESSION of the General Assembly begun and held at the State House in the City of Providence on Tuesday, the second day of January in the year of Our Lord two thousand and one.
Volume 128, No. 3
Thursday, January 4, 2001
Third Day
The Senate meets pursuant to adjournment and is called to order by His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, Charles J. Fogarty, at 4:02 o'clock P.M.
The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 48 Senators present and 2 Senators absent as follows:
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, by unanimous consent, presents Senator Hunter, to deliver the invocation.
(See Appendix for Invocation)
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, by unanimous consent, presents Senator Hunter, to lead the Senate in the pledge of allegiance to the flag.
APPROVAL OF RECORD
The Senate Journal of Wednesday, January 3, 2001 proceedings is read in part.
Upon suggestion of Senate Majority Leader Irons and by unanimous consent, further reading of the Journal is dispensed with and the Journal approved as recorded.
GUESTS
Upon suggestion of Senate Majority Leader Irons and Senators Coderre, Alves, DaPonte, Algiere, Blais, Sosnowski, Kelly, McDonald and Gibbs, and by unanimous consent, His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, welcomes to the Chamber Jeanne Moore, who is retiring as Vice President of Governmental Affairs at the University of Rhode Island, and Andrea Hopkins.
Upon suggestion of Senate Majority Leader Irons, and by unanimous consent, His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, welcomes to the Chamber Mary Messier of Pawtucket and her son, Seth, who will be serving as a Senate page this year.
COMMUNICATION
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, presents the following communication:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
SENATE CHAMBER
January 4, 2001
His Honor, Charles J. Fogarty
Lieutenant Governor Room 114, State House Providence, RI 02903
Dear Lt. Governor Fogarty;
Pursuant to the Rules adopted at the Democratic Caucus on November 9, 2000, I am making the following appointments to the Majority Leadership for the 2001-2002 Legislative Session:
Thomas R. Coderre
Senate Majority Whip
Robert T. Kells
Deputy Majority Whip
Dominick J. Ruggerio
Senior Deputy Majority Leader
J. Michael Lenihan
Senior Deputy Majority Leader
Michael J. Damiani
Deputy Majority Leader
Joseph M. Polisena
Deputy Majority Leader
John M. Roney
Deputy Majority Leader
V. Susan Sosnowski
Deputy Majority Leader
Donna Walsh
Deputy Majority Leader
Charles D. Walton
Deputy Majority Leader
Sincerely,
WILLIAM V. IRONS
Senate Majority Leader
Received and ordered to be placed on file.
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
SENATE CHAMBER
January 4, 2001
His Honor, Charles J. Fogarty Lieutenant Governor Room 114, State House Providence, RI 02903
Dear Lt. Governor Fogarty;
Pursuant to Section 5.2 of the Senate Rules, I am making the following appointments to the Senate Standing Committees:
SENATE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE
Joseph A. Montalbano, Chairperson
Michael J. McCaffrey, Vice Chairperson
Robert T. Kells, Secretary
James M. Donelan
Catherine E. Graziano
David V. Igliozzi
J. Michael Lenihan
John F. McBurney, III
Patrick T. McDonald
Rhoda E. Perry
Joseph M. Polisena
John C. Revens, Jr.
John M. Roney
Donna Walsh
Charles D. Walton
Mary A. Parella (R)
SENATE FINANCE COMMITTEE
Frank T. Caprio, Chairperson
Stephen D. Alves, Vice Chairperson
Walter S. Felag, Jr., Secretary
Aram G. Garabedian
Deputy Chairperson for
Human Resources and Transportation
Daniel J. Issa
Deputy Chairperson for
General Government and Education
M. Teresa Paiva Weed
Deputy Chairperson for
Public Safety and Environment
Roger R. Badeau
J. Clement Cicilline
Daniel P. Connors
William Enos
Maryellen Goodwin
Thomas J. Izzo
Leonidas P. Raptakis
Dominick J. Ruggerio
Leo R.Blais(R)
June N. Gibbs (R)
SENATE CORPORATIONS COMMITTEE
John A. Celona, Chairperson
William A. Walaska, Vice Chairperson
Michael J. Damiani, Secretary
Marc A. Cote
Deputy Chairperson for
Manufacturing Issues
Elizabeth H. Roberts
Deputy Chairperson for Health Issues
Thomas R. Coderre
Daniel DaPonte
Paul W. Fogarty
Hanna M. Gallo
Brian M. Hunter
Paul S. Kelly
James C. Sheehan
V. Susan Sosnowski
John J. Tassoni, Jr.
David E. Bates (R)
Kevin A. Breene (R)
SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION
AND WELFARE COMMITTEE
Catherine E. Graziano, Chairperson
Elizabeth H. Roberts, Vice Chairperson
Donna Walsh, Secretary
Frank T. Caprio
John A. Celona
J. Clement Cicilline
Aram G. Garabedian
Thomas J. Izzo
Robert T. Kells
Joseph A. Montalbano
Rhoda E. Perry
Joseph M. Polisena
John M.Roney
James C. Sheehan June N. Gibbs (R) Leo R. Blais(R)
SENATE SPECIAL LEGISLATION COMMITTEE
Maryellen Goodwin, Chairperson
Daniel J. Issa, Vice Chairperson
Leonidas P. Raptakis, Secretary
Stephen D. Alves
Thomas R. Coderre
Daniel P. Connors
Walter S. Felag, Jr.
Hanna M. Gallo
Paul S. Kelly
J. Michael Lenihan
Michael J. McCaffrey
Patrick T. McDonald
William A. Walaska
Charles D. Walton
David E. Bates (R)
Mary A. Parella (R)
SENATE LABOR COMMITTEE
Roger R. Badeau, Chairperson
Dominick J. Ruggerio, Vice Chairperson
V. Susan SosnowsKi, Secretary
Marc A. Cote
Michael J. Damiani
Daniel DaPonte
James M. Donelan
William Enos
Paul W. Fogarty
Brian M. Hunter
David V. Igliozzi John F. McBurney, III M. Teresa Paiva Weed John C. Revens, Jr. John J. Tassoni, Jr. Kevin A. Breene (R)
Sincerely,
WILLIAM V. IRONS
Senate Majority Leader
Received and ordered to be placed on file.
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
SENATE CHAMBER
His Honor, Charles J. Fogarty
January 4, 2001
Lieutenant Governor
Rhode Island Senate Chamber StateHouse
Providence, RI 02903
Dear Lt. Governor Fogarty:
Please be advised that I will be absent from the Senate session on Tuesday, January 9, 2001 as I will be out of state on Senate business.
I would appreciate your recording my letter in the appropriate Senate Journal.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
ELIZABETH H. ROBERTS
Senator, District 11
Received and ordered to be placed on file.
APPOINTMENTS BY THE GOVERNOR
His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, presents the following communication from His Excellency, the Governor, transmitting the following appointments and requesting the advice and consent of the Senate thereto:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
EXECUTIvE CHAMBER, PROVIDENCE
Lincoln Almond Governor
January 4,2001
To the Honorable, the Senate:
I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with the provisions of Article 10, Section 4 of the Rhode Island Constitution entitled Judicial Selection, I have made the following appointment as Chief Justice of the Rhode Island Supreme Court:
Frank J. Williams of Richmond
VICE
Chief Justice Joseph R. Weisberger
To this appointment, I request your advice and consent.
Sincerely,
LINCOLN ALMOND
Governor
Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Also:
STATE OF RHODE ISLAND AND PROVIDENCE PLANTATIONS
EXECUTIVE CHAMBER, PROVIDENCE
Lincoln Almond Governor
January 3, 2001
To the Honorable, the Senate;
I have the honor to inform you that in accordance with the provisions of Article 10, Section 4 of the Rhode Island Constitution entitled Judicial Selection, I have made the following appointment as Associate Justice of the Rhode Island Superior Court:
Edwin J. Gale of Wakefield
VICE
Associate Justice Thomas H. Needham
To this appointment, I request your advice and consent.
Sincerely,
LINCOLN ALMOND
Governor
Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
FROM THE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
A message from the House of Representatives transmits with announcement of passage:
(01-H 5010) An Act relating to state affairs and government.
Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Also:
(01-H 5006) Joint Resolution inviting His Honor, the Lieutenant Governor, and the Honorable Senate to join the House of Representatives in Grand Committee for the purpose of electing a Secretary of State.
Senate Majority Leader Irons requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
Unanimous consent for immediate consideration is granted.
Upon motion of Senate Majority Leader Irons,
seconded by Senator Coderre, and by unanimous consent, read and passed, in concurrence, under suspension of the rules, upon a voice vote.
NEW BUSINESS
Senators Enos, Cicilline and McDonald present (01-S 12) An Act relating to sexual assault.
Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Senator Blais presents (01-S 13) An Act relating to school and municipal playground safety.
Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Senators Walsh and Sosnowski present (01-S 14) An Act relating to education - establishment of regional school districts.
Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Senator Blais presents (01-S 15) An Act relating to notaries public and justices of the peace.
Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
TRANSMITTAL
By unanimous consent, all matters on the Clerk's desk are ordered to be transmitted to His Excellency, the Governor or to the Honorable House of Representatives forthwith.
ADJOURNMENT
Upon motion of Senate Majority Leader Irons, seconded by Senator Algiere, the Senate adjourns at 4:14 o'clock P.M.
RAYMOND T. HOYAS, JR. Secretary of the
Senate
Appendix
INVOCATION
SENATOR BRIAN M. HUNTER
Lord, grant to those in this chamber reverent spirits, devout hearts, and wise minds so that we may enact and execute those measures which will strengthen our State and benefit our people. Amen.
As always, your comments concerning this page are welcomed and appreciated.