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 fifth day of January in the year of Our Lord one thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine.
Volume 126, No. 21 Tuesday, March 2, 1999 Twenty-first Day


The House of Representatives meets at the State House in Providence, Tuesday, March 2, 1999, and is called to order at 5:22 o'clock P.M., by the Honorable John B. Harwood, Speaker.

The roll is called and a quorum is declared present with 98 members present and 2 members absent as follows;

PRESENT - 98: The Honorable Speaker Harwood and Representatives Abdullah-Odiase, Aiken, Ajello, Almeida, Amaral, Anderson, M., Anderson, 5., Barr, Benoit, Benson, Bramley, Burlingame, Callahan, Cambio, Carpenter, Carroll, Carter, Coderre, Coelho, Corvese, Costantino, Crowley, Dennigan, DeSimone, Faria, Farrell, Ferguson, Flaherty, Fleury, Fox, Garabedian, Garvey, George, Giannini, Ginaitt, Gorham, Heffner, Henseler, Hetherington, Hogan, Inman, Iwuc, Jacquard, Kelley, Kelso, Kennedy, Kilmartin, Knickle, Lally, Lanzi, Larisa, Levesque, C., Levesque, G., Lewiss, Lima, Long, Lopes, Lowe, Maher, Malik, Martineau, McCauley, McNamara, Menard, Millard, Montanaro, Moura, Mumford, Munschy, Murphy, Naughton, Palangio, Palumbo, Picard, Pires, Pisaturo, Quick, Rabideau, Reilly, Rose, Russo, San Bento, Schadone, Shavers, Sherlock, Simonian, Slater, Smith, Sullivan, Thompson, Vieira, Voccola, Wasylyk, Watson, Williams, Williamson, Winfield.

ABSENT - 2; Representatives Cicilline, Scott.

INVOCATION



The Honorable Speaker presents Representative McNamara, who delivers the Invocation and leads the membership in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

(For Invocation, see Appendix, this Journal.)





COMMUNICATION FROM THE SENATE


A message from the Honorable Senate transmits with announcement of passage, of the following measures:

(99-S 821) An Act to vacate the forfeiture or revocation of the charter of J. Vingi & Son, Inc.

Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.

(99-S 90 as amended) Joint Resolution creating a special legislative commission to study the implementation of recommendations of the Auditor General.

Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-S 340 as amended) An Act relating to solemnization of marriages.

Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.


NOTICES OF BILL/RESOLUTION

INTRODUCTION


Representative Barr gives notice that on the next legislative day he will introduce a measure concerning teachers.

This notice is given in compliance with House Rule 41.

JOHN DOUGLAS BARR, II
Representative, District 59

Received and ordered to be placed on file.

Representative Kelso gives notice that on the next legislative day he will introduce a measure concerning D.P.U.C./P.U.C.

This notice is given in compliance with House Rule 41.

JAMESM.KELSO
Representative, District 47

Received and ordered to be placed on file.

Representative Russo gives notice that on the next legislative day he will introduce a measure concerning Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation.

This notice is given in compliance with House Rule 41.

ALFRED A. RUSSO, JR.
Representative, District 55

Received and ordered to be placed on file.

Representative Gorham gives notice that on the next legislative day he will introduce a measure concerning deceptive trade practices identity theft.

This notice is given in compliance with House Rule 41.

NICHOLAS GORHAM
Representative, District 53

Received and ordered to be placed on file.

Representative Watson gives notice that on the next legislative day he will introduce a measure concerning divorce and separation.

This notice is given in compliance with House Rule 41.

ROBERT A. WATSON
Representative, District 43

Received and ordered to be placed on file.

REPORTS OF COMMITTEES
TRANSFER OF BILLS


Representative Flaherty, for the Committee on Judiciary, reports back the following measures, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Finance:

(99-H 5465) An Act relating to gambling and lotteries.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 5775) An Act relating to the business corporation tax.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representative Flaherty, for the Committee on Judiciary, reports back the following measure, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare:

(99-H 5938) An Act relating to health and safety - carbon monoxide detection.

Received and referred to the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare.

Representative Kennedy, for the Committee on Corporations, reports back the following measures, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Finance:

(99-H 5631) An Act relating to bank taxes.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 5405) An Act relating to insurance -automobile insurance territories.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 5349) An Act relating to registration of leased vehicles.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representative Kennedy, for the Committee on Corporations, reports back the following measure, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Judiciary:

(99-H 5720) An Act relating to business corporations.

Received and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Representative Benoit, for the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, reports back the following measures, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Finance:

(99-H 5917) An Act relating to health and safety - bone marrow registration.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 6082) An Act relating to health care for children and pregnant women.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 5579) An Act relating to human services - patient advocate.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 5760) An Act relating to businesses and professions- medical answering services.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 6065) An Act relating to state affairs and government- Department of Attorney General.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

(99-H 5682) An Act relating to human services - community health centers.

Received and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representative Benoit, for the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, reports back the following measures, with recommendation of transfer to the Committee on Judiciary:

(99-H 5495) An Act relating to human services - abused and neglected children.

Received and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

(99-H 5566) An Act relating to domestic relations.

Received and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

COMMITTEE ON
HEALTH, EDUCATION AND WELFARE


Representative Benoit, for the Committee on Health, Education and Welfare, reports back the following measures, with recommendation of passage:

(99-H 6109 as amended) House Resolution respectfully requesting that the Rhode Island Interscholastic League inform student athletes of the danger of chewing tobacco.

Received and ordered to be placed on the Calendar.

(99-H 5148) (Substitute "A") House Resolution respectfully requesting the Department of Health to carefully monitor the quality of health care at Rhode Island Hospital, specifically the Poison Control Center.

Received and ordered to be placed on the Calendar.


NEW BUSINESS


Representatives Corvese, San Bento, Vieira, Cambio and Russo introduce (99-H 6201) An Act relating to criminal offenses- weapons.

Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Representatives Slater, Smith, Fox, Carpenter, Ajello and several other members of the House introduce (99-H 6202) House Resolution congratulating Kerri M. Jennings on being selected Miss Debutante 1998 of the Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. the Ta Psi Omega Chapter at their Cotillion Ball on January 16, 1999.

Representative Slater requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.

There is no objection.

Read and passed, on motion of Representative Slater, seconded by the entire House of Representatives, and by unanimous consent, on a voice vote.

Representatives Burlingame, Almeida, Benoit, Munschy, Picard and Martineau introduce (99-H 6203) House Resolution honoring Bernie Harris and Mack Harris (posthumously) for their outstanding contributions to the community.

Representative Burlingame requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.

There is no objection.

Read and passed, on motion of Representative Burlingame, seconded by the entire House of Representatives, and by unanimous consent, on a voice vote.

Representatives Burlingame, Lowe and Benoit introduce (99-H 6204) An Act relating to health and safety explosives.

Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.

Representative Garvey introduces (99-H 6205) An Act relating to refuse disposal.

Read and referred to the Joint Committee on Environment and Energy.

Representatives Rabideau, Lowe and Kelley introduce (99-H 6206) An Act relating to the Harrisville Fire District.

Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.

Representative Carroll introduces (99-H 6207) House Resolution congratulating Chief Charles A. Aldrich on his retirement as Chief of the Harmony Fire Department.

Representative Carroll requests unanimous consent for immediate consideration.

There is no objection.

Read and passed, on motion of Representative Carroll, seconded by the entire House of Representatives, and by unanimous consent, on a voice vote.

Representatives Inman, 5. Anderson, George, Murphy and Montanaro introduce (99-H 6208) An Act establishing the Coventry land trust.

Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.

Representatives Watson and George introduce (99-H 6209) An Act relating to towns and cities.

Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.

Representative Pires introduces (99-H 6210) An Act relating to electricians.

Read and referred to the Committee on Corporations.

Representative Pires introduces (99-H 6211) An Act creating the drug dealer liability act.

Read and referred to the Committee on Judiciary.

Representative Callahan introduces (99-H 6212) An Act relating to taxation.

Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representatives Lima, Smith, Pisaturo, Montanaro, Moura and several other members of the House introduce (99-H 6213) An Act relating to education aid.

Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representatives Lima, Pisaturo, Smith, Montanaro, Moura and several other members of the House introduce (99-H 6214) An Act relating to the Rhode Island student investment initiative.

Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Representatives Slater, Costantino, Benoit, Aiken, Dennigan and several other members of the House introduce (99-H 6215) An Act relating to mental health, retardation and hospitals- community mental health services.

Read and referred to the Committee on Finance.

TRANSMITTAL



By unanimous consent, all matters on the Clerk's desk are ordered to be transmitted to His Excellency, the Governor, and to the Honorable Senate forthwith.

GUESTS


Representative Benson welcomes to the House her intern Albert Speaks, a Senior at Rhode Island College.

Representative Benson also honors Toray Plastics on its 10th Anniversary in Rhode Island.

Representative Lopes also welcomes Albert Speaks to the House Chamber.

Also:

Representative Kelley welcomes to the House as a guest a principal from the South Kingstown School Department, W. Richard Lovett.

Also:

Representative Williamson welcomes to the House Chambers Viola Smith.

CALENDAR




Representative Kilmartin requests to take item 1 (99-H 5384) (Substitute "A") from Wednesday's Calendar, and place it on the Calendar for Tuesday, March 9, 1999.

There is no objection.

ANNOUNCEMENTS


Representative Sherlock announces that the Committee on Finance will meet today at the rise of the House in Room 35 of the State House.

Also:

Representative Kennedy announces that the Committee on Corporations will meet today and tomorrow at the rise of the House in Room 203 of the State House.

Also:

Representative Faria announces that the Committee on Labor will meet today at the rise of the House in Room 135 of the State House.

Also:

Representative Corvese announces that the Rhode Island Diabetes Foundation is here today to test everyone's blood sugar level.

ADJOURNMENT


At 5:40 o'clock P.M. on motion of the Honorable Speaker Harwood and Representative Larisa, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Robert Janes; on motion of the Honorable Speaker Harwood and Representative Murphy, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Judge Francis Fazzano; on motion of Representatives Larisa and Quick, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Benjamin DiCenso; on motion of Representative Kelley, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Elizabeth Holland; on motion of Representative Long, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of John Lavender; on motion of Representative Quick, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Albert Miles; on motion of Representative Giannini, and as a further mark of respect to the memories of John Arruda and Ralph Carlino; on motion of Representative Henseler, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Janice Games; on motion of Representative Kilmartin, and as a further mark of respect to the memory of Corey Anderson, seconded by Representatives Martineau and Watson, the House adjourns, on a unanimous rising vote.

LINDA McELROY
Recording Clerk

Appendix



INVOCATION


REPRESENTATIVE JOSEPH M. McNAMARA


Dear Lord, be our guide as we work for a better Rhode Island.Amen.



Appendix



CALENDAR


In order for Tuesday, March 9, 1999:

1. (99-H 5384) (Substitute "A") House Resolution adopting the Rules of the House of Representatives for the years 1999-2000.

Committee on Rules recommends indefinite postponement of the original bill and passage of Substitute "A".

2. (99-H 6109 as amended) House Resolution respectfully requesting that the Rhode Island Interscholastic League inform student athletes of the danger of chewing tobacco.

Committee on Health, Education and Welfare recommends passage as amended.

3. (99-H 5148) (Substitute "A") House Resolution respectfully requesting the Department of Health to carefully monitor the quality of health care at Rhode Island Hospital, specifically the Poison Control Center.

Committee on Health, Education and Welfare recommends indefinite postponement of the original bill and passage of Substitute "A".

LOUIS D'ANTUONO
Reading Clerk
Tuesday, March 2, 1999



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