FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 253, sec. 51 — MA Code / Part III / Title IV / Chapter 253 / Section 51
Repairing and rebuilding mills and mill dams; power of majority
Status: in_force

Section 51. If a mill which is owned by joint tenants or tenants in common, or the dam or appurtenances of such mill, require repairs or rebuilding in whole or in part, and all the proprietors do not agree to join therein, a majority in interest of the proprietors may cause the work to be done at the expense of the whole in proportion to their respective interests.

Section 51. If a mill which is owned by joint tenants or tenants in common, or the dam or appurtenances of such mill, require repairs or rebuilding in whole or in part, and all the proprietors do not agree to join therein, a majority in interest of the proprietors may cause the work to be done at the expense of the whole in proportion to their respective interests.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 140, sec. 151B — MA Code / Part I / Title XX / Chapter 140 / Section 151B
Emergency treatment of dogs or cats injured on ways; payment to veterinarians
Status: in_force

Section 151B. A veterinarian registered under section 55 or 56A of chapter 112 who renders emergency care or treatment to, or who euthanizes, a dog or cat that is injured on any way shall receive payment from the owner of such dog or cat, if known, or, if not known, from the city or town in which the injury occurred in an amount not to exceed $250 for such care, treatment or euthanization; provided, however, such emergency care, treatment or euthanization shall be rendered for the purpose of maintaining life, stabilizing the animal or alleviating suffering until the owner or keeper of the dog or cat is identified or for 24 hours, whichever is sooner. A veterinarian who renders such emergency care or treatment to a dog or cat or euthanizes a dog or cat shall notify the municipal animal control officer and the animal control officer shall assume control of the dog or cat or the remains of the dog or cat.

Section 151B. A veterinarian registered under section 55 or 56A of chapter 112 who renders emergency care or treatment to, or who euthanizes, a dog or cat that is injured on any way shall receive payment from the owner of such dog or cat, if known, or, if not known, from the city or town in which the injury occurred in an amount not to exceed $250 for such care, treatment or euthanization; provided, however, such emergency care, treatment or euthanization shall be rendered for the purpose of maintaining life, stabilizing the animal or alleviating suffering until the owner or keeper of the dog or cat is identified or for 24 hours, whichever is sooner. A veterinarian who renders such emergency care or treatment to a dog or cat or euthanizes a dog or cat shall notify the municipal animal control officer and the animal control officer shall assume control of the dog or cat or the remains of the dog or cat.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 142, sec. 11A — MA Code / Part I / Title XX / Chapter 142 / Section 11A
Plumbing and gasfitting inspectors; cities over seventy-five thousand; appointment
Status: in_force

Section 11A. In any city with a population over seventy-five thousand which accepts the provisions of this section, notwithstanding the provisions of section eleven or any other general or special law or ordinance to the contrary, inspectors of plumbing and the inspectors of gasfitting shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one of the General Laws.

Section 11A. In any city with a population over seventy-five thousand which accepts the provisions of this section, notwithstanding the provisions of section eleven or any other general or special law or ordinance to the contrary, inspectors of plumbing and the inspectors of gasfitting shall be appointed by the mayor, subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one of the General Laws.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 7C, sec. 57 — MA Code / Part I / Title II / Chapter 7C / Section 57
Adoption of procedures and regulations to implement Secs. 44 to 58
Status: in_force

[ Text of section effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.] Section 57. The board shall independently adopt procedures and regulations as necessary to implement the requirements of sections 44 to 58, inclusive. Such procedures and regulations may vary according to the class of project. Chapter 7C: Section 57. Adoption of procedures and regulations to implement Secs. 44 to 57 [ Text of section as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 9 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.] Section 57. The board shall independently adopt procedures and regulations as necessary to implement the requirements of sections 44 to 57, inclusive. Such procedures and regulations may vary according to the class of project.

[ Text of section effective until November 25, 2025. For text effective November 25, 2025, see below.]

Section 57. The board shall independently adopt procedures and regulations as necessary to implement the requirements of sections 44 to 58, inclusive. Such procedures and regulations may vary according to the class of project.

Chapter 7C: Section 57. Adoption of procedures and regulations to implement Secs. 44 to 57

[ Text of section as amended by 2025, 73, Sec. 9 effective November 25, 2025. For text effective until November 25, 2025, see above.]

Section 57. The board shall independently adopt procedures and regulations as necessary to implement the requirements of sections 44 to 57, inclusive. Such procedures and regulations may vary according to the class of project.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 269, sec. 10I — MA Code / Part IV / Title I / Chapter 269 / Section 10I
Transporting firearm into commonwealth for use in commission of criminal activity or to unlawfully distribute, sell or transfer possession to prohibited person; penalty
Status: in_force

Section 10I. (a) Whoever transports a firearm, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140, into the commonwealth to use the firearm for the commission of criminal activity shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 5 years nor more than 10 years. (b) Whoever transports a firearm into the commonwealth to unlawfully distribute, sell or transfer possession of the firearm to a prohibited person, as defined in section 121F of chapter 140, shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not less than 10 years nor more than 20 years. (c) Whoever transports a firearm into the commonwealth to unlawfully distribute, sell or transfer the firearm to a prohibited person, as defined in section 121F of chapter 140, and if the firearm is subsequently used to cause the death of another, shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not less than 20 years.

Section 10I. (a) Whoever transports a firearm, as defined in section 121 of chapter 140, into the commonwealth to use the firearm for the commission of criminal activity shall be punished by imprisonment for not less than 5 years nor more than 10 years.

(b) Whoever transports a firearm into the commonwealth to unlawfully distribute, sell or transfer possession of the firearm to a prohibited person, as defined in section 121F of chapter 140, shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not less than 10 years nor more than 20 years.

(c) Whoever transports a firearm into the commonwealth to unlawfully distribute, sell or transfer the firearm to a prohibited person, as defined in section 121F of chapter 140, and if the firearm is subsequently used to cause the death of another, shall be punished by imprisonment in state prison for not less than 20 years.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 279, sec. 5 — MA Code / Part IV / Title II / Chapter 279 / Section 5
Sentence if no punishment is provided by statute
Status: in_force

Section 5. If no punishment for a crime is provided by statute, the court shall impose such sentence, according to the nature of the crime, as conforms to the common usage and practice in the commonwealth. If a person is convicted of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment, he may, unless otherwise expressly provided, be sentenced to imprisonment either in the jail or in the house of correction.

Section 5. If no punishment for a crime is provided by statute, the court shall impose such sentence, according to the nature of the crime, as conforms to the common usage and practice in the commonwealth. If a person is convicted of a misdemeanor punishable by imprisonment, he may, unless otherwise expressly provided, be sentenced to imprisonment either in the jail or in the house of correction.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 255E, sec. 6 — MA Code / Part III / Title IV / Chapter 255E / Section 6
License suspension or revocation; notice and hearing
Status: in_force

Section 6. The commissioner may suspend or revoke any license issued pursuant to this chapter if said commissioner finds that: (i) the licensee has violated any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted hereunder, or any other law applicable to the conduct of its business; or (ii) any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for such license, would have warranted the commissioner in refusing to issue such license. Except as provided in section seven, no license shall be revoked or suspended except after notice and a hearing thereon pursuant to chapter thirty A. A licensee may surrender a license by delivering to the commissioner written notice that it thereby surrenders such license, but such surrender shall not affect the civil or criminal liability of the licensee for acts committed before such surrender. No revocation, suspension or surrender of any license shall impair or affect the obligation of any pre-existing lawful contract between the licensee and any person.

Section 6. The commissioner may suspend or revoke any license issued pursuant to this chapter if said commissioner finds that:

(i) the licensee has violated any provision of this chapter or any rule or regulation adopted hereunder, or any other law applicable to the conduct of its business; or

(ii) any fact or condition exists which, if it had existed at the time of the original application for such license, would have warranted the commissioner in refusing to issue such license.

Except as provided in section seven, no license shall be revoked or suspended except after notice and a hearing thereon pursuant to chapter thirty A.

A licensee may surrender a license by delivering to the commissioner written notice that it thereby surrenders such license, but such surrender shall not affect the civil or criminal liability of the licensee for acts committed before such surrender.

No revocation, suspension or surrender of any license shall impair or affect the obligation of any pre-existing lawful contract between the licensee and any person.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 164, sec. 16A — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 164 / Section 16A
Inadequate depreciation allowances; corrective orders of department; use of funds restricted; enforcement
Status: in_force

Section 16A. If, when the department under this chapter approves an issue of stock, bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness of a corporation, or passes upon the price, rates, charges or service of a corporation, it determines that the provision made by the corporation for the depreciation of its property has been inadequate, the department shall order the corporation to set aside out of earnings such allowances for depreciation and for such period or periods as the department may from time to time prescribe. All monies required by such order to be so set aside shall be kept as a separate fund and shall not, without the further order of the department, be used for any other purpose than for renewals other than ordinary repairs, or for extensions, reconstruction and enlargements of and additions to plant, and the department shall prescribe in its order such requirements relative to the creation and maintenance of such fund and its application to such aforesaid authorized uses as it may deem advisable. All orders and decisions of the department under this section shall be enforced as provided in section sixteen.

Section 16A. If, when the department under this chapter approves an issue of stock, bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness of a corporation, or passes upon the price, rates, charges or service of a corporation, it determines that the provision made by the corporation for the depreciation of its property has been inadequate, the department shall order the corporation to set aside out of earnings such allowances for depreciation and for such period or periods as the department may from time to time prescribe. All monies required by such order to be so set aside shall be kept as a separate fund and shall not, without the further order of the department, be used for any other purpose than for renewals other than ordinary repairs, or for extensions, reconstruction and enlargements of and additions to plant, and the department shall prescribe in its order such requirements relative to the creation and maintenance of such fund and its application to such aforesaid authorized uses as it may deem advisable. All orders and decisions of the department under this section shall be enforced as provided in section sixteen.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 60, sec. 39 — MA Code / Part I / Title IX / Chapter 60 / Section 39
Service of tax notice; designating place
Status: in_force

Section 39. If a mortgagee or an owner of land causes a notice, designating a place in the town where such land lies at which all papers relative to taxes on such land which are to be served on him may be left, to be recorded in January of any year in the office of the clerk of such town and, during said month, to be delivered to the collector thereof, the collector shall serve at such place any notice, demand for payment or other paper relating to the taxes on such land which is to be served by him. The collector shall not advertise the sale of such land for two months after the time of a demand so made.

Section 39. If a mortgagee or an owner of land causes a notice, designating a place in the town where such land lies at which all papers relative to taxes on such land which are to be served on him may be left, to be recorded in January of any year in the office of the clerk of such town and, during said month, to be delivered to the collector thereof, the collector shall serve at such place any notice, demand for payment or other paper relating to the taxes on such land which is to be served by him. The collector shall not advertise the sale of such land for two months after the time of a demand so made.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 231, sec. 87 — MA Code / Part III / Title II / Chapter 231 / Section 87
Pleadings as evidence; effect
Status: in_force

Section 87. In any civil action pleadings shall not be evidence on the trial, but the allegations therein shall bind the party making them.

Section 87. In any civil action pleadings shall not be evidence on the trial, but the allegations therein shall bind the party making them.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 260, sec. 20 — MA Code / Part III / Title V / Chapter 260 / Section 20
Presumption of satisfaction of judgment
Status: in_force

Section 20. A judgment or decree of a court of record of the United States or of any state thereof shall be presumed to be paid and satisfied at the expiration of twenty years after it was rendered.

Section 20. A judgment or decree of a court of record of the United States or of any state thereof shall be presumed to be paid and satisfied at the expiration of twenty years after it was rendered.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 71, sec. 41B — MA Code / Part I / Title XII / Chapter 71 / Section 41B
Leaves of absence; Peace Corps
Status: in_force

Section 41B. A school superintendent shall grant to a teacher who has been accepted to serve in the Peace Corps of the United States and who is currently in good standing in a public school of the commonwealth a leave of absence for the term of such service. Such leave shall be without pay and shall not be counted as creditable service for retirement purposes but such member shall be restored to his previous or a similar position, with the same status, pay, length of service credit and seniority, whenever applicable, as he held on the date of such leave of absence.

Section 41B. A school superintendent shall grant to a teacher who has been accepted to serve in the Peace Corps of the United States and who is currently in good standing in a public school of the commonwealth a leave of absence for the term of such service. Such leave shall be without pay and shall not be counted as creditable service for retirement purposes but such member shall be restored to his previous or a similar position, with the same status, pay, length of service credit and seniority, whenever applicable, as he held on the date of such leave of absence.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 41, sec. 49 — MA Code / Part I / Title VII / Chapter 41 / Section 49
Vacancy in office of auditor
Status: in_force

Section 49. If the office of an auditor in a town is vacant, the remaining auditors, if any, may perform the duties thereof and may appoint a person to aid them. If there is no remaining auditor, the selectmen shall appoint an auditor to serve until another is qualified.

Section 49. If the office of an auditor in a town is vacant, the remaining auditors, if any, may perform the duties thereof and may appoint a person to aid them. If there is no remaining auditor, the selectmen shall appoint an auditor to serve until another is qualified.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 43, sec. 20 — MA Code / Part I / Title VII / Chapter 43 / Section 20
Passage of ordinances
Status: in_force

Section 20. No ordinance shall be passed finally on the date on which it is introduced, except in cases of special emergency involving the health or safety of the people or their property. No ordinance shall be regarded as an emergency measure unless the emergency is defined and declared in a preamble thereto separately voted on and receiving the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members of the city council. No ordinance making a grant, renewal or extension, whatever its kind or nature, of any franchise or special privilege shall be passed as an emergency measure, and except as provided in sections seventy and seventy-one of chapter one hundred and sixty-four and in chapter one hundred and sixty-six, no such grant, renewal or extension shall be made otherwise than by ordinance.

Section 20. No ordinance shall be passed finally on the date on which it is introduced, except in cases of special emergency involving the health or safety of the people or their property.

No ordinance shall be regarded as an emergency measure unless the emergency is defined and declared in a preamble thereto separately voted on and receiving the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members of the city council.

No ordinance making a grant, renewal or extension, whatever its kind or nature, of any franchise or special privilege shall be passed as an emergency measure, and except as provided in sections seventy and seventy-one of chapter one hundred and sixty-four and in chapter one hundred and sixty-six, no such grant, renewal or extension shall be made otherwise than by ordinance.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 108A, sec. 3 — MA Code / Part I / Title XV / Chapter 108A / Section 3
Knowledge and notice; definition
Status: in_force

Section 3. (1) A person has ''knowledge'' of a fact within the meaning of this chapter, not only when he has actual knowledge thereof, but also when he has knowledge of such other facts as in the circumstances show bad faith. (2) A person has ''notice'' of a fact within the meaning of this chapter when the person who claims the benefit of the notice. (a) States the fact to such person, or (b) Delivers through the mail, or by other means of communication, a written statement of the fact to such person or to a proper person at his place of business or residence.

Section 3. (1) A person has ''knowledge'' of a fact within the meaning of this chapter, not only when he has actual knowledge thereof, but also when he has knowledge of such other facts as in the circumstances show bad faith.

(2) A person has ''notice'' of a fact within the meaning of this chapter when the person who claims the benefit of the notice.

(a) States the fact to such person, or

(b) Delivers through the mail, or by other means of communication, a written statement of the fact to such person or to a proper person at his place of business or residence.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 247, sec. 13 — MA Code / Part III / Title IV / Chapter 247 / Section 13
Judgment for plaintiff
Status: in_force

Section 13. If the court finds that the goods were unlawfully taken or attached or unlawfully detained by the defendant, the plaintiff shall have judgment for his damages caused thereby and for costs.

Section 13. If the court finds that the goods were unlawfully taken or attached or unlawfully detained by the defendant, the plaintiff shall have judgment for his damages caused thereby and for costs.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 41, sec. 110A — MA Code / Part I / Title VII / Chapter 41 / Section 110A
Office hours on Saturday
Status: in_force

Section 110A. Any public office in any city or town may remain closed on any or all Saturdays as may be determined from time to time, in a city by the city council, subject to the provisions of the city charter, or, in a town, by vote of the town at a special or regular town meeting, and the provisions of section nine of chapter four shall apply in the case of such closing of any such office on any Saturday to the same extent as if such Saturday were a legal holiday.

Section 110A. Any public office in any city or town may remain closed on any or all Saturdays as may be determined from time to time, in a city by the city council, subject to the provisions of the city charter, or, in a town, by vote of the town at a special or regular town meeting, and the provisions of section nine of chapter four shall apply in the case of such closing of any such office on any Saturday to the same extent as if such Saturday were a legal holiday.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 233, sec. 79A — MA Code / Part III / Title II / Chapter 233 / Section 79A
Certified copies of public and private records
Status: in_force

Section 79A. Copies of public records, of records described in sections five, seven and sixteen, respectively, of chapter sixty-six<\/centy> ;;;MI;;0000000;<\/centr>, and of records of banks, trust companies, insurance companies and hospitals, whether or not such records or copies are made by the photographic or microphotographic process, shall, when duly certified by the person in charge thereof, be admitted in evidence equally with the originals.

Section 79A. Copies of public records, of records described in sections five, seven and sixteen, respectively, of chapter sixty-six<\/centy> ;;;MI;;0000000;<\/centr>, and of records of banks, trust companies, insurance companies and hospitals, whether or not such records or copies are made by the photographic or microphotographic process, shall, when duly certified by the person in charge thereof, be admitted in evidence equally with the originals.