The Clerk, Gloria Randlett, called the Senate to order at 10:30 a.m.

The prayer was offered by Rev. David P. Jones, Senate Chaplain.

Lord, even of legislative logistics and political proficiency, draw close now to each person here, chosen to serve in this hallowed chamber. By the power of Your character, transform each one of them from being merely successful politicians into becoming effective and disstinguished leaders. May they lead us carefully. May they lead us wisely. And for Your sake and ours, may they lead us together. Amen

Senator Blaisdell led the Pledge of Allegiance.

The Clerk of the Senate, Gloria M. Randlett, called the Roll of the Senate for attendance.

There were 24 members present.

At this time, on the first Wednesday in December, in the year of our Lord, one thousand nine hundred and ninety eight, being the day prescribed by the constitution for the legislature of New Hampshire to assemble and the honorable C. Jeanne Sheehan, governor of the state of New Hampshire, accompanied by the honorable governors council, having come into the Senate chamber, will now subscribe the oaths of office and witness the signing of the oath by each individual Senator, and verify these are duly qualified as senators agreeably to the provisions of the constitution: C. Jeanne Sheehan, governor of the state of New Hampshire.

On behalf of the Executive council, I would like to swear in the honorable Senate:

District No. 1 Frederick W. King, Sr.

Nominations for temporary presiding officer.

Senator Larsen nominated Senator Burt Cohen for temporary presiding officer.

Senator Russman seconded the nomination.

Further nominations.

Senator Gordon moved that nominations for temporary presiding officer be closed.

Question is on electing Burton Cohen for temporary presiding officer.

Senators’ Hollingworth and Roberge escorted temporary presiding officer, Burton Cohen to the rostrum.

Senator Cohen the presiding officer asked for nominations for the president of the Senate.

Senator J. King nominated Senator "Junie" Clesson Blaisdell, for the president of the Senate.

Senator F. King seconded the nomination.

Further nominations.

Senator Below moved that nominations for president of the Senate be closed.

Question is on electing "Junie" Clesson Blaisdell for Senate president.

Senator Clesson Blaisdell is elected the president of the Senate.

Senator Cohen requested that Senators’ Disnard and McCarley escort the President of the Senate, Senator Clesson Blaisdell, to the rostrum.

Senator Trombly placed the name of Gloria Randlett in nomination for Senate Clerk.

Senator Johnson seconded the nomination.

Further nominations.

Senator Squires moved that the nominations be closed and that one vote be cast for Gloria Randlett as clerk of the New Hampshire Senate.

Gloria M. Randlett is elected clerk of the New Hampshire Senate.

Senator Johnson moved to place the name of Tammy Wright in nomination for assistant clerk of the Senate.

Senator J. King seconded the nomination.

Further nominations.

Senator Fraser moved that the nominations be closed and that one vote be cast for Tammy Wright for assistant clerk of the New Hampshire Senate.

Tammy Wright is elected assistant clerk of the Senate.

Senator Larsen moved that the name of Henry Wilson be placed in nomination for sergeant-at-arms.

Senator Francoeur seconded the motion.

Further nominations.

Senator Krueger moved that the nominations be closed and that one ballot be cast for Henry Wilson, sergeant-at-arms.

Henry Wilson is elected sergeant-at-arms.

Senator F. King moved that the name of Emile Martineau be placed in nomination for doorkeeper.

Senator Disnard seconded the motion.

Further nominations.

Senator Brown moved that the nominations be closed and that one ballot be cast for Emile Martineau, doorkeeper.

Emile Martineau is elected Senate doorkeeper.

The President administered the oaths of office to the Senate clerk, assistant clerk, sergeant-at-arms, and doorkeeper.

Senator Klemm offered the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the secretary of state be requested to furnish the Senate with the official return of votes from the various senatorial districts.

The Honorable William M. Gardner, secretary of state, appeared and presented the return of votes for state Senators from the various senatorial districts, as returned to the secretary of state’s office from the general election held on November 2, 1998.

The Select Committee to whom was referred the various returns of votes for the state Senators from the several districts, having attended to their duties and having examined the returns made to the secretary of state and the records in the office of said secretary, report that they filed the state of the vote returned from the several districts as follows:

Frederick W. King, Sr., r 8,460

William L. Bradley, d 4,047

Plurality for King 4,413

Edward Gordon, r 8,515

Sid Lovett, d 4,523

Plurality for Gordon 3,992

Carl R. Johnson, r 9,713

Paul Henle, d 6,987

Plurality for Johnson 2,726

Leo W. Fraser, Jr., r & d 10,399

Clifton Below, d 8,172

Larry Guaraldi, r 7,171

Plurality for Below 1,001

Caroline McCarley, d 6,505

George A. Lovejoy, r 5,490

Plurality for McCarley 1,015

Rick A. Trombly, d 6,802

Amy Patenaude, r 6,375

Plurality for Trombly 427

George F. Disnard, d 7,209

Beverly T. Rodeschin, r 6,107

Plurality for Disnard 1,102

Sheila Roberge, r 9,971

Marilyn Peterman, d 7,115

Plurality for Roberge 2,856

Clesson J. Blaisdell, d 8,112

Samuel DeYoung, r 4,137

Plurality for Blaisdell 3,975

Mark Fernald, d 7,556

David K. Wheeler, r 6,068

Plurality for Fernald 1,488

James Squires, r 8,280

Lawrence Tartow, d 4,581

Plurality for Squires 3,699

Debora B. Pignatelli, d 5,666

Don Johnson, r 3,158

Plurality for Pignatelli 2,508

Gary R. Francoeur, r 6,431

Peter G. Dolloff, d 4,777

Plurality for Francoeur 1,654

Sylvia B. Larsen, d 9,565

Greg Stowell, r 5,506

Plurality for Larsen 4,059

Patricia Krueger, r 7,867

Stephen T. DeStefano, d 7,862

Plurality for Krueger 5

Mary E. Brown, r 7,356

James E. Devine, d 4,368

Plurality for Brown 2,988

John A. King, d 7,103

J. Gail Barry, r 4,774

Plurality for King 2,329

Richard L. Russman, r 6,885

Brian Woodworth, d 3,196

Plurality for Russman 3,689

Lou D’Allesandro, d 5,974

Timothy S. Reiniger, r 5,506

Plurality for D’Allesandro 468

Katie W. Wheeler, d 7,588

Amos R. Townsend, r 3,873

Plurality for Wheeler 3,715

Arthur P. Klemm, Jr., r 7,757

Stephanie K. Micklon, d 5,366

Plurality for Klemm, Jr. 2,391

Beverly A. Hollingworth, d 8,193

John T. Dowd, r 6,911

Plurality for Hollingworth 1,282

Burton J. Cohen, d 7,985

Stella Scammon, r 6,168

Plurality for Cohen 1,817

Senator Squires offered the following Resolution:

RESOLVED, that the returns from the several senatorial districts be referred to a select committee of three with instructions to examine and count the same and report to the Senate where any vacancies or contest exists and if so, in what senatorial district.

The chair appointed Senators: Cohen and Hollingworth, Johnson to examine the vote totals.

Senator Russman offered the following Resolution:

Let it be Resolved, that the Rules of the 1997-1998 session be adopted as the rules of the 1999-2000 session and further that these rules may be changed by majority vote for the next three legislative days.

RULES OF THE SENATE

1. Determination of quorum; correction 23. Amended bills, printed

of Journal. distributed and disposed of.

2. Members, decorum of 24. Appropriating money, to whom

3. Members, conduct when speaking referred.

4. Members not to speak more than twice. 25. President to sign bills, etc.

5. President shall recognize whom. 26. Committees, appointment of.

6. Questions of order, appeal. 27. Standing Committees.

7. Member, absenting himself. 28. Messages sent to House.

8. Motions, order of preference. 29. Messages, when received.

9. Questions postponed indefinitely 30. Voting; division of Senate.

not acted upon in same biennium. 31. Visitors to Senate.

10. Questions, when divided. 32. Hours of meeting.

11. Objections to reading paper, how 33. Rules of Senate, how suspended.

determined. 34. Rules of Senate, how rescinded.

12. Roll Call, everyone must vote. 35. Committee of the whole.

13. Galleries, clearing of. 36. President may name member to

14. Reconsideration, motion for. chair.

15. Petitions, introduction of. 37. Senate staff; composition and

16. Bills; shall be numbered and expressed duties.

clearly. 38. Senate staff; days of

17. Bills, introduction of. employment.

17-A (a) Bills, deadlines for drafting. 39. Committees, reports and

17-b Bills, deadlines for information meetings

17-c Final deadline

18. Resolutions to be treated as bills 40. Appeal, presiding officer

19. Bills shall have three readings; ruling.

progress of; time for second and 41. Motions, no substitution under

third readings. color of amendment.

20. Bills, printing and distribution. 42. Conflict of interest.

21. Bills amended only on second reading; 43. Committee of Conference reports

filing of amendments. 44. Personal privilege.

22. Public hearings to be held and 45. Requisition Approval Required.

advertised. 46. Fiscal notes, requirements.

SENATE RULES

1. The President, having taken the chair, shall determine a quorum to be present. Any erroneous entry in the daily journal shall be corrected no later than the third succeeding legislative day, and the permanent journal corrected one week after the permanent journal copy is placed in the hands of the Senate.

2. No member shall hold conversation with another while a member is speaking in debate.

3. Every member, wishing to speak, shall address the President and when he has finished shall, if having risen to speak, then sit down.

4. No member shall speak more than twice on the same question on the same day without leave of the Senate.

5. More than one member rising to speak at the same time, the President shall decide who shall speak first.

6. If any member transgresses the rules of the Senate, the President shall, or any member may, call him to order; in which case the member so called to order shall immediately cease and desist, and the Senate, if appealed to, shall decide the case. But if there is no appeal, the decision of the President shall be conclusive.

7. No member shall absent himself without permission from the Senate.

8. When any question is under debate, no motion shall be received but first, to adjourn; second, to lay upon the table; third, for the previous question; fourth, to postpone to a certain day; fifth, to commit; sixth, to

amend; and seventh, to postpone indefinitely; which several motions shall have precedence in the order in which they are so arranged. Motions to adjourn, to lay upon the table, for the previous question, and to take from the table shall be decided without debate. Motions to postpone to a certain day shall be debatable both as to time and subject matter. No motion to postpone indefinitely, to postpone to a certain day, or to commit, being decided, shall be in order at the same stage of the bill or resolution, until after adjournment.

9. A question which is postponed indefinitely shall not be acted upon during the biennium except whenever two-thirds of the whole number of elected Senators shall on division taken, vote in favor thereof. Any bill which is indefinitely postponed shall not be reintroduced under cover of an amendment to the general appropriations (budget) bill. No motion to suspend this rule shall be permitted.

10. Any member may call for a division of the question when the sense will admit it. Unless otherwise specifically provided for, a majority of those present and voting shall be required to pass any vote.

11. When the reading of a paper or document is objected to by a member, the question shall be determined by a vote of the Senate; and without debate.

12. When the nays and yeas have been moved by a member and duly seconded by another member, each member present shall declare his assent or dissent to the question, unless for special reason he be excused by the Senate. The names of the persons so making the motion and the second shall be recorded in the Journal. A member who is to be absent when the yeas and nays are required may pair his vote with another member, to be present or also to be absent, who intends to vote on the opposite side of the question. Pairs shall be permitted only if the yeas and nays are taken on such question. Both members shall file such pair in writing with the Clerk before the question is put. In all cases of pairing, the vote of neither member shall be counted in determining the result of the roll call; but the Clerk shall announce all pairs and enter them in the Journal. The President shall determine the order of the roll call. No member shall be required to vote in any case where he was not present when the question was put.

13. In case of any disturbance or disorderly conduct in the gallery, the President shall have the power to order the same to be cleared. The Chairman of the Committee of the Whole may restrict attendance to the duly elected Senators.

14. No vote shall be reconsidered, unless the motion for reconsideration be made by a member who voted with the prevailing side, nor unless the notice of such motion be given to the Senate in open session prior to adjournment on the same day on which the vote as passed, or on the next day on which the Senate shall be in session within one half hour after the convening of the early session, and any such notice of reconsideration shall be effective for three legislative days only and thereafter shall be null and void.

14 (a) Reconsideration of any bills subject to a transfer date established by joint rules must be acted on or before the joint rule deadline, and thereafter shall be null and void.

15. Before any petition shall be received and read, a brief statement of the contents thereof shall be made by the member introducing the same.

16. All petitions, memorials and other papers addressed to the Senate and all bills and resolutions to be introduced in the Senate, shall be endorsed with the name of the Senator presenting them, and with the subject matter of the same. Every bill shall be marked on the first page "Senate Bill" and numbered serially; every joint resolution shall be marked "Senate Joint Resolution" and numbered serially; every concurrent resolution proposing a constitutional amendment shall be marked "Concurrent Resolution Proposing a Constitutional Amendment" and numbered serially; and every other concurrent resolution shall be marked "Senate Concurrent Resolution" and numbered serially, as each bill or resolution is introduced into the Senate.

17. All petitions, memorials and other papers addressed to the Senate and all bills and resolutions to be introduced into the Senate shall be delivered or caused to be delivered to the Office of Legislative Services, which in turn will submit it to the sponsor for his signature, and then to the Clerk by Legislative Services. If requested by the sponsor, a proposed bill, resolution or petition shall not be made public, except by the sponsor, until signed by the sponsor. During any adjournment the President may receive bills and resolutions for printing and for reference to committee, provided that no bill shall have a public hearing until it is formally introduced into the Senate printed and available for distribution. The President shall take up all bills and resolutions for introduction at the early session.

17-A (a) The Office of Legislative Services shall not draft a Senate bill or joint resolution, other than the general appropriations (budget) bill or the capital budget bill, unless a request by a member for drafting with complete information has been received not later than 5:00 pm Wednesday December 18, 1996

b) Every Senate bill and joint resolution, other than the general appropriations (budget) bill or the capital budget bill, must be signed off in Legislative Services by 5:00 p.m., on Friday, January 3, 1997.

(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of 17 (a), (b), and (c), a Senate bill, Senate joint resolutions, or Senate concurrent resolution may be accepted by Legislative Services for drafting and introduced into the Senate at any time prior to the deadline established by Joint Rules for the transfer of bills out of the first body if approved by either a majority of the

Senate Rules Committee or a two-thirds vote on the floor.

(d) No bill the subject matter of which has been indefinitely postponed or made inexpedient to legislate in the Senate in the first-year session shall be admitted into the second-year session whether as a bill, an amendment, a committee of conference report or in any other manner;

(e) Legislation returned from the non-originating body, with an amendment, shall not be re-referred to Committee but shall have one of the following recommendations: Concur, Nonconcur, Nonconcur and Request a Committee of Conference.

17-B Committees of Conference.

(a) Whenever there be any disagreement between the Senate and the House on the content of any bill or resolution, and whenever both bodies, voting separately, have agreed to establish a committee of conference, the President of the Senate shall appoint three members to the Senate conference committee on the bill and the Speaker of the House shall appoint four members to the House conference committee. Exceptions: (1) the House committee of conference on the operating budget shall consist of five members; (2) the number of the members of the committees of conference on any bill may increase or decrease if the President and the Speaker both agree. The two committees of conference on a bill shall meet jointly but vote separately while in conference. A unanimous vote by both committees of conference shall be necessary for an agreed report to the Senate and the House by the committees of conference.

(b) The first-named person from the body where the bill or resolution in disagreement originated shall have the authority to call the time and place for the first meeting of the committees of conference on said bill.

(c) The first-named person on a committee of conference shall be the chairman of that conference. The chairman of the committee of conference of the body where the bill or resolution in disagreement originated shall chair the joint meeting of the committees of conference.

(d) No action shall be taken in either body on any committee of conference report earlier than some subsequent day, after the report has been delivered to the seats or placed on a member's desk. A committee of conference may neither change the title of any bill submitted to it nor add amendments which are not germane to the subject matter of the bill as originally submitted to it.

(e) Conference Committees on Budget Bills. The report of each committee of conference on either the general appropriation bill, or the capital improvements bill shall be printed in the journal or a supplement thereto of the appropriate body before action on said report is taken on the floor. Non-germane amendments, sections and footnotes to such bills (except footnotes in explanation of the principal text of such bills or designating the use or restriction of any funds or portions thereof) are prohibited and shall not be allowed under any circumstances. Notwithstanding the general provisions of paragraph (h) of this section, the Conference Committee on general appropriations bill may propose new items for inclusion in said bill but no such item may be so included unless and until it shall have been returned to both the Senate and the House and adopted in identical form by a majority vote in each body.

(f) When both committees of conference on a concurrent resolution proposing an amendment to the constitution have agreed, the committee of conference from the body which acceded to a request for committees of conference shall file its report with the clerk of that body who shall print it in full in the journal or supplement of that body. The report shall be made a special order of business at the late session of a subsequent day. After said report has been adopted by the first body, a message shall be transmitted to the second body which shall then act upon the report of its committee of conference.

(g) A sponsor of any bill or joint resolution referred to committees of conference shall, upon his request, be granted a hearing before said committees prior to action thereon.

(h) No member of a committee of conference shall sign any report that contains non-germane amendments or subject matter that has been indefinitely postponed in either body. For the purposes of this rule, a non-germane amendment would be any subject matter not contained in either the House or the Senate version of the bill.

18. All resolutions which may require the signature of the Governor shall be treated in the same manner as bills.

19. Every bill shall have three readings in the Senate previous to its passage. The first and second readings shall be by title only which may be accomplished by a conglomerate resolution, after which the bill shall be referred by the President to the appropriate committee and shall be printed as provided in Rule 20, unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. No bill after it has been read a second time shall have a third reading until after adjournment from the early session. The time assigned for the third reading of bills and resolutions shall be in the late session unless otherwise ordered by the Senate. The orders of the day for the reading of bills shall hold for every succeeding day until disposed of.

20. After every bill shall have been read a second time, and referred by the President to the appropriate committee, the Clerk shall procure a sufficient number of copies, printed on paper of uniform size, for the use of the legislature, and cause the same to be distributed to the members, and when printed the bill shall be immediately delivered to the committee to which it shall have been referred. Bills received from the House shall be printed at the same stage of their procedure unless they have been printed in the House and copies distributed in the Senate, in which case any amendment made by the

House shall be duplicated and distributed in the Senate.

21. No amendment shall be made but upon the second reading of a bill; and all amendments to bills and resolutions shall be in writing, with the name of the Senator and the district he represents thereon. No amendment to any bill shall be proposed or allowed at any time or by any source, including a committee of conference, except it be germane. Amendments shall have been reviewed by the Office of Legislative Services for form, construction, statutory and chapter reference.

22. A hearing shall be held upon each bill referred to a committee, and notice of such hearing shall be advertised at least 7 days before hearing in the Senate Calendar. The Senate Calendar shall be available on the World Wide Web for viewing as soon as it has been released for printing.

(a) All bills in the possession of committees shall be reported out with one of the following recommendations: ought to pass, ought to pass with amendment, inexpedient to legislate, or refer for interim study. Refer for interim study shall be a committee report only in the second year.

(b) Any legislation creating a chapter study committee shall have membership limited to members of the General Court.

23. When a bill is reported favorably with an amendment, the report of the committee shall state the amendment, and then recite the section of the bill in full as amended. The amendment shall be printed in the calendar of the Journal on the date that the report is listed for action. If no action is taken on that day, then the amendment shall be printed on the day to which the bill has been referred. All bills reported shall be laid upon the table and shall not be finally acted upon until the following legislative day, and a list of such bills with the report thereon shall be published in the Journal for the day on which action shall be taken.

24. Every bill and joint resolution appropriating money, which has been referred to another committee and favorably accepted by the Senate, shall be committed to the Finance Committee for review. If any such bills have been referred jointly to the Finance Committee and another standing committee, the Finance Committee may report separately and a further public hearing may be held at the discretion of the Finance Committee. All bills appropriating money, which are referred directly to the Finance Committee shall have a hearing. Any bill which has been referred to another committee and favorably accepted by the Senate, which has an economic impact on the state may be referred to the Committee on Economic Development for review. The Committee on Economic Development may hold a further public hearing at the discretion of the Committee.

25. All warrants, subpoenas and other processes issued by order of the Senate shall be under the hand and seal of the President attested by the Clerk.

26. All committees of the Senate, including Senate members on committees of conference, shall consist of members of both parties as nearly equal as possible, provided that on all committees, both parties shall be represented. The President shall appoint the members of all committees, after consulting with the minority leader.

27. The standing committees of the Senate shall be as follows:The Committee on Finance, Committee on Capital Budget, Committee on Ways & Means, Committee on Banks, Committee on Economic Development, Committee on Education, Committee on Environment, Committee on Executive Departments & Administration, Committee on Insurance, Committee on Internal Affairs, Committee on Interstate Cooperation, Committee on Judiciary, Committee on Public Affairs, Committee on Public Institutions Health & Human Services, Committee on Rules & Enrolled Bills, the Committee on Transportation and the Committee on Wildlife & Recreation.

28. Messages shall be sent to the House of Representatives by the Clerk of the Senate.

29. Messages from the Governor or House of Representatives may be received at all times, except when the Senate is engaged in putting the question, in calling the yeas and nays, or in counting the ballots.

30. All questions shall be put by the President, and each member of the Senate shall signify his assent or dissent by answering yea or nay. If the President doubts, or a division is called for, the Senate shall divide. Those in the affirmative on the question shall first rise from their seats and stand until they be counted. The President shall rise and state the decision of the Senate.

31. No person except members of the executive, or members of the House of Representatives and its officers, shall be admitted to the floor of the Senate, except by the invitation of the President, or some member with his consent.

32. The Senate shall adjourn to meet on the subsequent legislative day for the early session at the time mentioned in the adjournment motion. The late session shall immediately follow the early session unless the Senate shall otherwise order.

33. No standing rule of the Senate shall be suspended unless two-thirds of the members present vote in favor thereof. This rule shall not apply to Senate Rule 9.

34. No rule shall be rescinded unless two days notice of the motion has been given and two-thirds of those present vote therefor.

35. The Senate may resolve itself into a Committee of the Whole at any time on motion made for that purpose; and in forming a Committee of the Whole, the President shall leave the chair, and appoint a chairperson to preside in committee.

36. The President when performing the duties of the Chair may, at any time, name any member to perform the duties of the Chair.

37. The staff of the Senate shall be comprised of a clerk, an assistant clerk, a sergeant-at-arms, and a doorkeeper who are to be elected by the Senate, and such other personnel as the President shall appoint. The President shall define the duties of all members of the Senate staff which are not fixed by statute or otherwise ordered by the Senate.

38. Each member of the staff of the Senate shall be available on call to carry out the work of the Senate.

39. The committees shall promptly consider and report on all matters referred to them. The President may authorize such committees having a heavy load of investigation, re-drafting, research or amendments to meet as needed on non-legislative days during the legislative session. The Clerk of the Senate shall prepare a list by number, title and sponsor of all Senate bills and resolutions in committee which have not been acted upon within one week before the deadline established for the transfer of bills and resolutions from the Senate to the House of Representatives, and he/she shall distribute this list to every member of the Senate as soon as it is prepared.

40. Any appeal from the ruling of the presiding officer shall be decided by majority vote of the members present and voting.

41. No new motion shall be admitted under color of amendment as a substitute for the motion under debate.

42. In all instances every member shall act in conformance with the duly adopted Ethical Guidelines and Opinions of the New Hampshire General Court.

43. Action on the floor of a report of the Committee on Finance or a Committee of Conference on either the general appropriations (budget) bill or the capital budget bill, shall not be taken by the Senate, until said report has been available from the Senate Clerk twenty-four hours in advance, in written form. Nongermane amendments and footnotes to such bills (except footnotes in explanation of the principal text of such bills or designating the use or restriction of any funds or portions thereof) are prohibited and shall not be allowed under any circumstances.

44. PERSONAL PRIVILEGE: A Senator may, as a matter of personal privilege, defend his/her position on a bill, his/her integrity, his/her record, or his/her conduct, against unfair or unwarranted criticism, or may speak of an issue which relates to his/her rights, privileges or conveniences as a Senator; provided, however, the matters raised under personal privilege shall not be subject to questioning, answer, or debate, by another Senator. Personal Privilege remarks may be included in the Daily Journal if requested by the Senator, and in the Permanent Journal by vote of the Senate. A Senator may speak on other matters of his/her choosing and in such cases may be subject to questioning and/or answer according to the Rules of the Senate.

45. No officer or employee of the Senate during the session or any adjournment thereof shall purchase or contract for the purchase, pay or promise to pay any sum of money on behalf of the Senate or issue any requisition or manifest without the approval of the Senate President.

46. If a drafting request for a bill or resolution has been filed with the office of Legislative Services requiring a fiscal note as provided in RSA 14:44-47, the substance or a draft of the proposal may be provided to the legislative budget assistant for preparation of the required fiscal note without the specific consent of the sponsor of the proposal, provided that the identity of the sponsor shall not be disclosed.

Senator Hollingworth reported that the select committee to whom was referred the various return of votes for state Senators from the several districts, having attended to their duties and having examined the returns made to the secretary of state and the records in the office of said secretary, report that they find the state of the vote returned from the several districts to be correct.

Senator Pignatelli offered the following resolution:

Salary and Mileage Payments to the Members of the Senate:

RESOLVED, that the salary of the members of the Senate be paid in one undivided sum as early as practical after adoption of this Resolution, and be it further Resolved, that mileage of members of the Senate be paid every two weeks during the session.

Senator Roberge offered the following resolution:

RESOLVED, that the clerk of the Senate be authorized to provide during the session one daily or two weekly newspapers printed within the state or daily newspaper clips to the members and officers of the Senate.

Senator Trombly offered the following:

Whereas, the constitutional requirement under part 2, article 18 that all money bills originate in the House of Representatives, means that the Senate is dependent of the House for starting legislation relative to raising money for the purpose of addressing the Claremont II lawsuit and related decisions of the supreme court; and

Whereas, it shall be conveyed that it is the sense of the Senate

That the House of Representatives act expeditiously in the 1999 session of the general court to adopt proposed legislation addressing the Claremont II lawsuit and related decisions of the supreme court; and

That the House act with due deliberation and speed, and with due regard to the April 1, 1999 deadline, so that the Senate may address the proposed action of the House by the beginning of February 1999 and have sufficient time for deliberation on the matter and have sufficient time for final adoption of any proposed solution.

That the Senate clerk shall convey this sense of the Senate to the clerk of the House of Representatives.

Senator Below moved that rules of the Senate be so far suspended as to allow an introduction of Senate Concurrent Resolution 1 today that the rules be further suspended to dispense with the referral to committee, notice in the calendar, hearing and report of committee and that the resolution be on second reading at the present time.

Senator Below offered the following Resolution:

1999 SESSION

99-0417

03/09

ANALYSIS

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99-0417

03/09

STATE OF NEW HAMPSHIRE

Whereas, the general court found, when enacting chapter 129 of the laws of 1996, restructuring the electric utility industry, now codified at RSA 374-F: that New Hampshire has the highest average electric rates in the nation; that there is a wide rate disparity in electric rates both within New Hampshire and as compared to the region; that New Hampshire’s extraordinarily high electric rates disadvantage all classes of customers; and that these high rates are a significant impediment to economic growth and new job creation in this state; and

Whereas, in order to remedy this problem, and to bring electric rates in New Hampshire in line with the rates in other New England states, the general court directed the public utilities commission to require the implementation of retail choice of electric suppliers no later than July 1, 1998; and

Whereas, implementation of retail choice of electric suppliers includes authority by the public utilities commission to address claims for stranded costs; and

Whereas, in the intervening 2-1/2 years, electric rates in this state have remained extraordinarily high, and the disparity between rates in New Hampshire and rates in other New England states has increased dramatically due to rate reductions and the implementation of retail competition in neighboring states; and

Whereas, implementation of retail competition in much of the state has been blocked due to litigation by the largest utility in the state; and

Whereas, the public utilities commission petitioned the supreme court to rule on certain key disputed legal issues relating to the commission’s authority to address claims for stranded costs in order to implement retail choice of electric suppliers, now designated as case number 98-114; and

Whereas, these issues have been briefed and argued before the supreme court by Public Service Company of New Hampshire, the state, and representatives of consumer interests; and

Whereas, the supreme court has not yet issued an opinion on these issues; and

Whereas, implementation of retail competition in the state’s largest service territory cannot proceed until these legal issues are resolved; and

Whereas, the opinion of the supreme court may necessitate further legislative action before retail competition can proceed; and

Whereas, the deadline for filing legislation for the 1999 session is nearly upon us; now, therefore, be it

Resolved by the Senate, the House of Representatives concurring:

That the general court of New Hampshire respectfully requests that the New Hampshire supreme court extend the highest possible priority to the issuance of an opinion on the issues before the court in case number 98-114 relating to the public utility commission’s authority to address claims for stranded costs; and

That copies of this resolution, signed by the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives, be forwarded by the senate clerk to the justices of the supreme court, to the clerk of the supreme court, to the governor, to the attorney general, and to the public utilities commissioners.

Senator Cohen (Rule #44)

The House of Representatives has organized and has elected its officers:

Speaker of the House: Representative Donna Sytek.

Clerk of the House: Karen Wadsworth.

Assistant Clerk of the House: Leo J. Callahan.

Sergeant-At-Arms: Robert Johnson.

The House of Representatives is organized and ready to meet with the honorable Senate in Joint Convention for the purpose of electing a state treasurer and a secretary of state.

Senator Squires moved that be it RESOLVED, to meet in Joint Convention for the purpose of electing the secretary of state, state treasurer and for canvassing votes for the governor and council.

Senator Trombly moved that the Senate having organized and completed its business of the day, that we now adjourn until convening day, Wednesday, January 6, 1999 at 10:00 a.m.

SCR 1, urging the supreme court to issue a prompt ruling on certain specific issues transferred to the court by the public utilities commission on February 20, 1998.

Senator Johnson moved that the business of the day being completed, that the Senate now adjourn until Wednesday, January 6, 1999 at 10:00 a.m.

Leo W. Fraser, Jr., CH

Mark Fernald, VC

George F. Disnard

Arthur P. Klemm, Jr.

Richard L. Russman

Rick A. Trombly

Katherine Wells Wheeler

Sylvia B. Larsen, CH

Lou D’Allesandro, VC

Burton J. Cohen

Edward M. Gordon

Beverly A. Hollingworth

John A. King

Deborah B. Pignatelli

Richard L. Russman

Katherine Wells Wheeler

Caroline McCarley, CH

John A. King, VC

Burton J. Cohen

Lou D’Allesandro

George F. Disnard

Edward M. Gordon

Carl R. Johnson

Sylvia B. Larsen

James W. Squires

Frederick W. King, Sr., CH

Clifton C. Below, VC

Burton J. Cohen

George F. Disnard

Beverly Hollingworth

Carl R. Johnson

Sheila Roberge

Leo Fraser

Mark Fernald, CH

Mary E. Brown, VC

Lou D’Allesandro

George F. Disnard

Gary R. Francoeur

Patricia Krueger

Richard L. Russman, CH

Burton J. Cohen, VC

Clifton C. Below

Lou D’Allesandro

Carl R. Johnson

Patricia Krueger

Debora B. Pignatelli

Katherine Wells Wheeler

Burton J. Cohen, CH

Gary R. Francoeur, VC

Mary E. Brown

Lou D’Allesandro

Sylvia B. Larsen

Sheila Roberge

Rick A. Trombly

Beverly A. Hollingworth, CH

Frederick W. King, Sr., VC

Clifton C. Below

John A. King

Arthur P. Klemm, Jr.

Sylvia B. Larsen

Caroline McCarley

James W. Squires

Katherine Wells Wheeler, CH

Clesson J. Blaisdell, VC

Gary R. Francoeur

Leo W. Fraser, Jr.

Beverly A. Hollingworth

John A. King

Caroline McCarley

James W. Squires

Lou D’Allesandro, CH

Arthur P. Klemm, Jr., VC

Clifton C. Below

Gary R. Francoeur

Leo W. Fraser, Jr.

Debora B. Pignatelli

Rick A. Trombly

Carl R. Johnson, CH

Mark Fernald, VC

Clifton C. Below

Mary E. Brown

George F. Disnard

Gary R. Francoeur

Debora B. Pignatelli

Clesson J. Blaisdell

Carl Johnson

Beverly Hollingworth

Frederick W. King, Sr.

John A. King

Sylvia B. Larsen

Clesson J. Blaisdell

Beverly Hollingworth

Frederick W. King, Sr.

John A. King

Sylvia B. Larsen

Debora R. Pignatelli, CH

Edward M. Gordon, VC

Mary E. Brown

Burton J. Cohen

Mark Fernald

James W. Squires

Rick A. Trombly

Katherine Wells Wheeler

Rick A. Trombly, CH

George F. Disnard, VC

Clifton C. Below

Patricia Krueger

Caroline McCarley

Sheila Roberge

Richard L. Russman

James W. Squires, CH

Katherine Wells Wheeler, VC

Mark Fernald

Edward M. Gordon

Patricia Krueger

Caroline McCarley

Debora B. Pignatelli

John A. King, CH

Debora B. Pignatelli, VC

Clesson J. Blaisdell

Burton J. Cohen

Beverly Hollingworth

Carl R. Johnson

Frederick W. King, Sr.

Sylvia B. Larsen

Edward M. Gordon, CH

Sheila Roberge, VC

Mark Fernald

Caroline McCarley

Debora B. Pignatelli

Richard L. Russman

Rick A. Trombly

Clifton C. Below, CH

Leo W. Fraser, Jr., VC

Mary E. Brown

Lou D’Allesandro

Mark Fernald

Beverly Hollingworth

Frederick W. King, Sr.

John A. King

George F. Disnard, CH

Rick A. Trombly, VC

Lou D’Allesandro

Arthur P. Klemm, Jr.

Patricia Krueger

Caroline McCarley

Sheila Roberge

Katherine Wells Wheeler