Senate advances bills creating sick-leave banks for two state employees

The Massachusetts Senate on a voice vote ordered two separate bills creating sick-leave banks for state employees to be engrossed after third readings. The measures were taken from the orders of the day and read in full before the chamber voted to pass each bill to be engrossed.

Both measures were procedural as read: "An act establishing a sick leave bank for James Caruso, an employee of the Massachusetts Department of Transportation, House No. 4230," and "An act establishing a sick leave bank for Carlos Borges, an employee of the Department of Correction, House No. 4322." After the readings the chair put the question on passing each bill to be engrossed and the chamber responded, "Aye," the chair said, and each bill was passed to be engrossed.

For the Carlos Borges measure, the committee on bills in the third reading submitted a report recommending consolidation with Senate No. 2562 and noted a drafting correction; the Senate accepted that report and then passed the consolidated measure to be engrossed. No roll-call vote totals were recorded on the floor record provided; the chamber acted by voice vote. The actions were procedural orders advancing the measures toward enrollment and further legislative consideration.

The readings and votes occurred during the Senate's routine floor business; no debate on the merits of the individual sick-leave bank requests was recorded in the transcript segments provided. The clerk read the measures and the chair called for the ayes and noes before announcing the outcomes.