State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations
JOURNAL
-OF THE-
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
JANUARY SESSION of the General Assembly begun and held at the State House in the City of Providence on Tuesday, the seventh day of January in the year of Our Lord two thousand and three.
| Volume 130, No.26 |
Thursday, March 13, 2003 |
Twenty-sixth Day |
The House of Representatives meets at the State House in Providence, Thursday, March 13, 2003, and is called to order at 4:22 o'clock P.M., by the Honorable William J. Murphy, Speaker.
The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 67 members present and 8 members absent as follows:
PRESENT - 67: The Honorable Speaker Murphy and Representatives Ajello, Almeida, Amaral, Anderson, Anguilla, Aubin, Brien, Callahan, Caprio, Cerra, Coderre, Coogan, Corvese, Costantino, Crowley, DeSimone, Enos, Faria, Fox, Gallison, Giannini, Gorham, Handy, Jacquard, Kennedy, Kilmartin, Lally, Landroche, Laroche, Lewiss, Lima, Long, Lowe, Malik, McCauley, McHugh, McNamara, Menard, Moffitt, Montanaro, Moran, Moura, Mumford, Naughton, Palumbo, Petrarca, Picard, Reilly, Rose, Savage, Schadone, Scott, Shanley, Shavers, Sherlock, Slater, Smith, Story, Tejada, Trillo, Voccola, Wasylyk, Watson, Williams, Williamson, Winfield.
ABSENT - 8: Representatives Benson, Carter, Dennigan, Flaherty, Ginaitt, Harwood, McManus, San Bento.
INVOCATION
The Honorable Speaker presents Representative Gallison, who delivers the Invocation and leads the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.
(For Invocation, see Appendix, this Journal.)
APPROVAL OF RECORD
By unanimous consent, the House Journal of Wednesday, March 12, 2003, is approved as printed.
ANNOUNCEMENTS
Representative Ginaitt will be out of state and unable to attend session today, Thursday, March 13, 2003.
Also:
Representative William J. McManus will not be in session today. He will be out of town.
GUEST
Representative Giannini welcomes to the House Chambers as a guest Merrill Thomas, and addresses the members of the House on National Cover the Uninsured Week.
(For remarks, see Appendix, this Journal.)
COMMUNICATION FROM THE SENATE
A message from the Honorable Senate transmits with announcement of passage, of the following measure:
(03-S 933) Joint Resolution reinstating the life of and extending the reporting and expiration dates of the special legislative commission to study the concept of sustainability as it could be encouraged by state government.
Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.
REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
TRANSFER OF BILLS
Representative Sherlock, for the Committee on Finance, reports back the following measure, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Corporations:
(03-H 5960) An Act relating to health and safety - health insurance coverage for emergency services.
Received and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Representative Sherlock, for the Committee on Finance, reports back the following measure, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare:
(03-H 5880) An Act relating to human services - children's health care - hospice care.
Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.
Representative Moran requests leave of the House to transfer the following measure from the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy to the Committee on Judiciary.
There is no objection.
(03-H 5267) An Act relating to hunting and hunting safety.
Received and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Representative Anderson requests leave of the House to transfer the following measures from the Joint Committee on Water Resources to the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy.
There is no objection.
(03-H 5053) An Act relating to towns and cities.
Received and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy.
(03-H 5054) An Act relating to waters and navigation.
Received and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy.
(03-H 5055) An Act relating to the Kent County Water District.
Received and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy.
NEW BUSINESS
Representatives Crowley, Shavers and Cerra introduce (03-H 6187) An Act relating to alcoholic beverages - retail licenses.
Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Representatives Gorham, Moffitt and Anderson introduce (03-H 6188) An Act relating to the regulation of earth removal and gravel processing in the town of Coventry.
Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Representative Scott introduces (03-H 6189) An Act relating to health and safety - vital records.
Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.
Representative Watson introduces (by request of the Governor) (03-H 6190) An Act relating to retirement.
Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representatives Naughton, Crowley, Ginaitt, Benson and Aubin introduce (03-H 6191) An Act relating to education - University of Rhode Island.
Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.
Representatives Naughton, Crowley, Ginaitt, Benson and Aubin introduce (03-H 6192) An Act relating to aquaculture.
Read and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy.
Representative Story introduces (03-H 6193) Joint Resolution making an appropriation of $422.98 to pay the claim of Dennis A. DiMatteo of 8 Greenbrier Drive, Barrington, Rhode Island 02806.
Read and referred to the Joint Committee on Accounts and Claims.
Representatives Trillo, Rose, Almeida and Malik introduce (03-H 6194) An Act relating to insurance - small employer health insurance.
Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.
Representatives Lally, McNamara and Naughton introduce (03-H 6195) House Resolution honoring Edwin Holden for his outstanding service to the state of Rhode Island and the United States of America.
Representative McNamara requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.
There is no objection.
Read and passed, on motion of Representative McNamara, seconded by Representative Fox, and by unanimous consent, on a voice vote.
NOTICE OF BILL/RESOLUTION INTRODUCTION
Representative Menard gives notice that on the next legislative day he will introduce a measure concerning weapons.
This notice is given in compliance with House Rule 42.
RENE R. MENARD
Representative, District 45
Received and ordered to be placed on file.
CALENDAR
From the Calendar are taken:
1. (03-H5157) An Act relating to solemnization of marriages.
Committee on Judiciary recommends passage.
Representative Williamson moves passage of the act, seconded by Representatives Fox, Giannini, Cerra, Naughton, Lima, Slater, Corvese, Anguilla and Landroche.
Representatives Crowley, Watson and Fox discuss the act.
Read and passed, on a roll call vote, 59 members voting in the affirmative and 0 members voting in the negative as follows:
YEAS - 59: The Honorable Speaker Murphy and Representatives Ajello, Almeida, Anderson, Anguilla, Aubin, Brien, Callahan, Caprio, Cerra, Coderre, Coogan, Corvese, Costantino, Crowley, Enos, Faria, Fox, Gallison, Giannini, Gorham, Handy, Jacquard, Kennedy, Kilmartin, Lally, Landroche, Laroche, Lewiss, Lima, Long, Lowe, Malik, McNamara, Menard, Moffitt, Montanaro, Moran, Mumford, Naughton, Palumbo, Petrarca, Picard, Reilly, Rose, Savage, Schadone, Scott, Shanley, Sherlock, Slater, Smith, Story, Trillo, Wasylyk, Watson, Williams, Williamson, Winfield.
NAYS - 0.
2. (03-H5341) An Act relating to solemnization of marriages.
Committee on Judiciary recommends passage.
Representative Williamson moves passage of the act, seconded by Representatives Long, Anguilla, Landroche, Giannini and Lima.
Read and passed, on a roll call vote, 60 members voting in the affirmative and 0 members voting in the negative as follows:
YEAS - 60: The Honorable Speaker Murphy and Representatives Ajello, Almeida, Amaral, Anderson, Anguilla, Aubin, Brien, Callahan, Caprio, Cerra, Coderre, Coogan, Corvese, Costantino, Crowley, Enos, Fox, Gallison, Giannini, Gorham, Handy, Jacquard, Kennedy, Kilmartin, Lally, Landroche, Laroche, Lewiss, Lima, Long, Lowe, Malik, McHugh, McNamara, Menard, Moffitt, Montanaro, Moran, Mumford, Naughton, Palumbo, Petrarca, Picard, Reilly, Rose, Savage, Schadone, Scott, Shanley, Sherlock, Slater, Smith, Story, Trillo, Wasylyk, Watson, Williams, Williamson, Winfield.
NAYS - 0.
3. (03-H5452) (Substitute "A") An Act relating to motor vehicle offenses.
Committee on Judiciary recommends indefinite postponement of the original bill and passage of Substitute "A".
Representative Anguilla moves passage of the act, seconded by Representatives Montanaro, Laroche, Landroche, Kilmartin, Anderson, Rose, Long, Savage, Amaral, Kennedy, Lewiss, Caprio, McNamara, Sherlock, McHugh, Fox, Menard, Lima, Gallison, Giannini, Aubin, Brien, Moran, Picard, Williamson and Cerra.
The bill marked Substitute "A" is read and passed, and the original bill indefinitely postponed, on a roll call vote, 60 members voting in the affirmative and 0 members voting in the negative as follows:
YEAS - 60: The Honorable Speaker Murphy and Representatives Ajello, Almeida, Anderson, Anguilla, Aubin, Brien, Caprio, Cerra, Coderre, Corvese, Costantino, Crowley, Enos, Faria, Fox, Gallison, Giannini, Gorham, Handy, Jacquard, Kennedy, Kilmartin, Lally, Landroche, Laroche, Lewiss, Lima, Long, Lowe, Malik, McCauley, McHugh, McNamara, Menard, Moffitt, Montanaro, Moran, Mumford, Naughton, Palumbo, Petrarca, Picard, Reilly, Rose, Savage, Schadone, Scott, Shanley, Slater, Smith, Story, Tejada, Trillo, Voccola, Wasylyk, Watson, Williams, Williamson, Winfield.
NAYS - 0.
Representatives Callahan, Amaral and Sherlock request the journal to reflect that if they had voted on (03-H 5452) (Substitute "A"), they would have voted in the affirmative.
There is no objection.
4. (03-S108 as amended) An Act relating to taxation - special housing exemption - Lincoln.
Committee on Corporations recommends passage as amended in concurrence.
Representative Kennedy moves passage of the act, seconded by Representatives Menard, Williamson, Petrarca, Reilly, Slater and several other members of the House.
Read and passed, as amended, in concurrence, on a roll call vote, 61 members voting in the affirmative and 0 members voting in the negative as follows:
YEAS - 61: The Honorable Speaker Murphy and Representatives Ajello, Almeida, Amaral, Anderson, Anguilla, Aubin, Brien, Callahan, Caprio, Cerra, Coderre, Corvese, Costantino, Crowley, Enos, Faria, Fox, Gallison, Giannini, Gorham, Handy, Jacquard, Kennedy, Kilmartin, Lally, Landroche, Laroche, Lewiss, Lima, Long, Lowe, Malik, McHugh, McManus, McNamara, Menard, Moffitt, Montanaro, Moran, Mumford, Naughton, Palumbo, Petrarca, Picard, Reilly, Rose, Savage, Schadone, Scott, Shanley, Sherlock, Slater, Smith, Story, Trillo, Wasylyk, Watson, Williams, Williamson, Winfield.
NAYS - 0.
CONSENT CALENDAR
From the Consent Calendar are taken:
1. (03-H5018) An Act relating to towns and cities - sewage charges in the town of North Smithfield.
Committee on Corporations recommends passage.
2. (03-H5722) An Act exempting from taxation the real, mixed, and personal property of the Darlington Braves, Inc. of Pawtucket.
Committee on Corporations recommends passage.
3. (03-H5756) An Act relating to validating and ratifying amendments to the home rule charter of the town of Middletown.
Committee on Corporations recommends passage.
4. (03-H5761) An Act relating to taxation - levy and assessment of local taxes.
Committee on Corporations recommends passage.
5. (03-H5766) An Act relating to validating and ratifying amendments to the charter of the town of Jamestown.
Committee on Corporations recommends passage.
Read and passed, on motion of Majority Leader Fox, seconded by Minority Leader Watson, and by unanimous consent, on a voice vote.
TRANSMITTAL
By unanimous consent, all matters on the Clerk's desk are ordered to be transmitted to the Honorable Secretary of State, and to the Honorable Senate forthwith.
ADJOURNMENT
At 4:42 o'clock P.M. on motion of Representative Lima, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Rose M. Corso, seconded by Representatives Fox and Watson, the House adjourns, on a unanimous rising vote.
LINDA McELROY
Recording Clerk
Appendix
INVOCATION
REPRESENTATIVE RAYMOND E. GALLISON
Lord, we have been sent to these positions of responsibility by the people. Make us mindful that we are their servants. Give us the wisdom and energy to serve them honestly and well. Amen.
Appendix
REMARKS
REPRESENTATIVE JOANNE M. GIANNINI
Members of the House, I rise today to call your attention to the critical role that Rhode Island's 13 community health centers play in delivering quality care to one out of ten of our state's residents, including many Rhode Islanders without health insurance.
As you may know, this is National Cover the Uninsured Week. In Rhode Island, roughly 8% of our citizens are uninsured, a reality that has serious health and economic consequences. A study released just this month by the Institute of Medicine found that:
Uninsured adults often go without recommended cancer screenings, delaying diagnosis until the cancer is more likely to be fatal.
Uninsured adults with serious conditions like hypertension lack regular access to medications that help control such diseases.
25% of adults with diabetes who are uninsured for a year or more go without a health checkup for two years, and miss important eye, foot, and blood pressure exams that help prevent blindness, amputation, and heart disease.
On the frontlines of treating the uninsured are our community health centers. Without their presence, uninsured Rhode Islanders would go without necessary care until it is too late, and then flood our state's already overburdened hospitals. A few facts about the critical role that Rhode Island community health centers play:
50% of Rite Care patients receive care at health centers.
Rhode Island's health centers primarily serve our state's growing minority population.
Rhode Island community health centers save the state $10.8 million annually in state Medicaid expenditures.
In Providence, we're proud to point to the efforts of the five Providence Community Health Centers, which have been serving the residents of our city for years. With me today is Merrill Thomas, from the Providence Community Health Center. He is visiting the State House today on behalf of all of Rhode Island's community health centers to raise awareness of the plight of the uninsured patients the health centers serve every day.
Along with: Representative Carter, Representative Harwood, Representative Faria, Representative McHugh, Representative McCauley, Representative Savage, Representative Lima, Representative Williamson, Representative Crowley, Representative Amaral, Representative Aubin, Representative Almeida, Representative Williams, Representative Moura, Representative Wasylyk, Representative Laroche, Representative Picard, Representative Caprio, Representative Voccola and Representative Scott, whom have health centers in their districts, I hope you'll join me in thanking Merrill Thomas, and all of Rhode Island's community health centers, for their efforts in providing high quality, affordable health care to so many Rhode Islanders, including the uninsured.
In closing, Rhode Island's community health centers are tremendously important to serving the needs of our state's uninsured residents. I thank them for their efforts, and for helping us focus our attention on the plight of Rhode Island's uninsured citizens.
As always, your comments concerning this page are welcomed and appreciated.
Thank you for stopping by!
