House suspends Joint Rule 12 to refer petitions on school library standards and Wage Act damages

The House, acting on a report from the Committee on Rules, suspended Joint Rule 12 to permit referral of two petitions to standing committees.

The Committee on Rules reported recommending suspension of Joint Rule 12 on petitions including: a petition from Angelo J. Popolo Jr. and Samantha Montano relative to school library standards, to be referred to the Committee on Education; and a petition from Angelo J. Popolo Jr. relative to damages for employees aggrieved by violations of the Massachusetts Wage Act, to be referred to the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development. Representative Owens of Watertown moved suspension of the rules; the motion carried by voice vote and Joint Rule 12 was suspended as recorded.

The transcript records the committee report and the House’s procedural votes to suspend Joint Rule 12 and refer the petitions. No further debate on the substance of the petitions is recorded in the provided transcript.