Thursday, March 14, 2002 417
Journal of the Senate
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Thursday, March 14, 2002
The Senate was called to order by the President.
Devotional Exercises
Devotional exercises were conducted by the Reverend Terry Dorsett of Barre.
Message from the House No. 31
A message was received from the House of Representatives by Mr. Palmisano, its First Assistant Clerk, as follows:
Mr. President:
I am directed to inform the Senate the House has adopted a Joint Resolution of the following title:
J.R.H. 227. Joint resolution honoring Vermont’s registered nurses.
In the adoption of which the concurrence of the Senate is requested.
The House has considered a Joint Resolution originating in the Senate of the following title:
J.R.S. 116 Joint resolution in memory of Esther Cheney Lasell of Williamstown.
And has adopted the same in concurrence.
Committee Bills Introduced
Senate committees bill of the following titles were severally introduced, read the first time, and, under the rule, placed on the Calendar for notice tomorrow:
S. 296.
By the Committee on Finance,
An act relating to the town of Rockingham and electric generating facilities.
S. 297.
By the Committee on Transportation,
An act relating to the use of electric personal assistive mobility devices.
S. 299.
By the Committee on Natural Resources and Energy,
An act relating to a moratorium on certain fines related to actions that otherwise would be funded under the petroleum cleanup fund.
Joint Resolution Adopted on the Part of the Senate
Joint Senate resolution of the following title was offered, read and adopted on the part of the Senate, and is as follows:
By Senator Shumlin,
J.R.S. 119. Joint resolution relating to weekend adjournment.
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That when the two Houses adjourn on Friday, March 15, 2002, it be to meet again no later than Tuesday, March 19, 2002, at ten o’clock in the forenoon.
Joint Resolutions Placed on Calendar
J.R.S. 120.
Joint Senate resolution of the following title was offered, read the first time and is as follows:
By Senators Sears and Morrissey,
J.R.S. 120. Joint resolution congratulating the Oldcastle Theatre Company of Bennington.
Whereas, in 1972, five talented young New Yorkbased thespians, Paul Falzone, Gary Alan Poe, Norrine Phillips, Joe Warik and Eric Peterson, formed an itinerant theater company to present performances of great drama and comedy to eager audiences beyond the confines of Manhattan’s “Great White Way,” and
Whereas, originally organized as the “Pauper Players,” these talented actors quickly decided, after performing their initial production, “The Hollow Crown,” to adopt a less realisticallydescriptive name, and settled on the “Oldcastle Theatre Company,” in honor of Sir John Oldcastle, the real-life model for Shakespeare’s character Sir John Falstaff, and
Whereas, in 1977, after touring for five years, the members of the Oldcastle Theatre Company, growing weary from their constant travel, decided to establish a permanent home in Bennington where the company had performed before enthusiastic and appreciative audiences, and
Whereas, the campus of Southern Vermont College was selected as the Oldcastle Theatre Company’s new headquarters and continued to host the company until the opening of the magnificent Bennington Center for the Arts in 1994, and
Whereas, since the curtain first rose on this nowvenerable repertory ensemble, the Oldcastle Theatre Company has staged 182 productions of 175 plays, featuring a diverse menu of theatrical performances from Shakespeare’s comedy, “As You Like It”, to Thornton Wilder’s classic drama, “Our Town,” and
Whereas, beyond the Oldcastle Theatre Company’s 2002 season of six exciting and compelling presentations, the company has now established an outstanding education program, including special daytime performances for school children, student internships, and a “First Day Program” for area middle school students, which enables the participants to develop spontaneous sketches based on the joys and fears of starting a new school year, and
Whereas, under the brilliant direction of producing artistic director Eric Peterson, the Oldcastle Theatre Company is looking forward to continuing the innovative theatrical fare for which the company has been praised, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly congratulates the Oldcastle Theatre Company on its 30th anniversary and extends best wishes for future success, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to Eric Peterson at the Oldcastle Theatre Company in Bennington.
Thereupon, in the discretion of the President, under Rule 51, the joint resolution was placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow.
J.R.H. 227.
Joint resolution originating in the House of the following title was read the first time and is as follows:
Joint resolution honoring Vermont’s registered nurses.
Whereas, 7,028 registered nurses licensed in Vermont represent our state’s largest health care resource, and
Whereas, 451 advanced practice registered nurses serve Vermonters as adult, pediatric and family nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, nurse anesthetists and clinical specialists, and
Whereas, registered nurses comprise 70.3 percent of the health care providers in the state, and
Whereas, these nurses provide direct care, support and education to Vermont residents in hospitals, long-term care facilities, schools, clinics, physician offices, correctional facilities, workplaces and patients’ homes, and
Whereas, registered nurses, through the broadening of their education and direction of their research, focus their practice on preventing illness and maintaining wellness, applying advances in medical technology, improving health care delivery systems, and meeting the health care needs of our most fragile citizens, and
Whereas, March 13, 2002, is Vermont Nurses’ Day at the State House, now therefore be it
Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives:
That the General Assembly honors the outstanding role of registered nurses in the delivery of quality health care in Vermont, and be it further
Resolved: That the Secretary of State be directed to send a copy of this resolution to the Vermont State Nurses’ Association in South Burlington.
Thereupon, in the discretion of the President, under Rule 51, the joint resolution was placed on the Calendar for action tomorrow.
Bill Ordered to Lie
S. 224.
Senate bill entitled:
An act relating to reports of abuse, neglect and exploitation of elderly and disabled adults.
Was taken up.
Thereupon, pending the reading of the report of the Committee on Health and Welfare, on motion of Senator Shumlin, the bill was ordered to lie.
Consideration Postponed
S. 245.
Senate bill entitled:
An act relating to making it clear that a municipality may use sewer allocation authority to implement its municipal plan.
Was taken up.
Thereupon, without objection consideration of the bill was postponed until the next legislative day.
Bill Passed
Senate bill of the following title was read the third time and passed:
S. 277.
An act relating to authorizing municipalities to mange stormwater.
Bill Amended; Bill Passed
S. 286.
Senate bill entitled:
An act relating to Vermont hospitals, the certificate of need program, and the hospital budget review process.
Was taken up.
Thereupon, pending third reading of the bill, Senator Leddy moved to amend the bill as follows:
First: In Sec. 7, 18 V.S.A., § 9456(b), by adding a new subdivision (4) to read as follows:
(4) consider the limited resources available to the Vermont Medicaid program from funds appropriated by the General Assembly;
and by renumbering the remaining subdivisions to be numerically correct
Second: In Sec. 7, 18 V.S.A. § 9456(c), by adding a new subdivision (4) to read as follows:
(4) reflect revenue anticipated to be derived from Vermont Medicaid beneficiaries consistent with the funds appropriated by the General Assembly for Vermont Medicaid hospital reimbursement;
and by renumbering the remaining subdivisions to be numerically correct
Which was agreed to.
Thereupon, the bill was read the third time and passed.
Joint Resolution Adopted in Concurrence
J.R.H. 226.
Joint House resolution entitled:
Joint resolution saluting the University of Vermont and the university’s students, alumni, faculty and staff for their outstanding service on behalf of our state and nation.
Having been placed on the Calendar for action, was taken up and adopted in concurrence.
Adjournment
On motion of Senator Shumlin, the Senate adjourned until eleven o’clock and thirty minutes in the morning.