FrankGoortani/open-us-law huggingface dataset:
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 158, sec. 54 — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 158 / Section 54
Defense by officer or stockholder of action against corporation
Status: in_force

Section 54. If, in an action against a corporation, it appears to the court that one of the objects of the action is to obtain a judgment against the corporation in order to enforce an alleged liability of a person who has been or is a stockholder or officer thereof, any such person may be permitted, on petition, to defend such action, and in such case the court may require of him or of a person in his behalf, a bond with sufficient surety or sureties, conditioned to pay to the plaintiff all costs which may accrue and be taxed to him after the filing of said petition.

Section 54. If, in an action against a corporation, it appears to the court that one of the objects of the action is to obtain a judgment against the corporation in order to enforce an alleged liability of a person who has been or is a stockholder or officer thereof, any such person may be permitted, on petition, to defend such action, and in such case the court may require of him or of a person in his behalf, a bond with sufficient surety or sureties, conditioned to pay to the plaintiff all costs which may accrue and be taxed to him after the filing of said petition.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 175I, sec. 14 — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 175I / Section 14
Investigations
Status: in_force

Section 14. (a) The commissioner shall have power to examine and investigate into the affairs of every insurance institution or insurance representative doing business in the commonwealth to determine whether such insurance institution or insurance representative has been or is engaged in any conduct in violation of this chapter. (b) The commissioner shall have the power to examine and investigate into the affairs of every insurance-support organization acting on behalf of an insurance institution or insurance representative which either transacts business in the commonwealth or transacts business outside the commonwealth that has an effect on a person residing in the commonwealth in order to determine whether such insurance-support organization has been or is engaged in any conduct in violation of this chapter.

Section 14. (a) The commissioner shall have power to examine and investigate into the affairs of every insurance institution or insurance representative doing business in the commonwealth to determine whether such insurance institution or insurance representative has been or is engaged in any conduct in violation of this chapter.

(b) The commissioner shall have the power to examine and investigate into the affairs of every insurance-support organization acting on behalf of an insurance institution or insurance representative which either transacts business in the commonwealth or transacts business outside the commonwealth that has an effect on a person residing in the commonwealth in order to determine whether such insurance-support organization has been or is engaged in any conduct in violation of this chapter.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 159, sec. 17 — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 159 / Section 17
Charges for service; regulation
Status: in_force

Section 17. All charges made, demanded or received by any common carrier for any service rendered or performed, or to be rendered or performed by it or in connection therewith in the conduct of its common carrier business, or made, demanded or received by any two or more common carriers joining in rendering or performing any service shall be just and reasonable, and every such common carrier and any two or more such common carriers joining in rendering or performing any service shall be entitled to make, demand and receive just and reasonable charges for any such service, and every unjust or unreasonable charge is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful; but charges heretofore established and set out in any schedule filed as provided in sections nineteen and nineteen A shall be deemed prima facie lawful until changed or modified by the department under the powers conferred upon it by this chapter, but this provision shall not give to such rates any greater weight as evidence of the reasonableness of other rates than they would otherwise have.

Section 17. All charges made, demanded or received by any common carrier for any service rendered or performed, or to be rendered or performed by it or in connection therewith in the conduct of its common carrier business, or made, demanded or received by any two or more common carriers joining in rendering or performing any service shall be just and reasonable, and every such common carrier and any two or more such common carriers joining in rendering or performing any service shall be entitled to make, demand and receive just and reasonable charges for any such service, and every unjust or unreasonable charge is hereby prohibited and declared unlawful; but charges heretofore established and set out in any schedule filed as provided in sections nineteen and nineteen A shall be deemed prima facie lawful until changed or modified by the department under the powers conferred upon it by this chapter, but this provision shall not give to such rates any greater weight as evidence of the reasonableness of other rates than they would otherwise have.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 29, sec. 2BBBB — MA Code / Part I / Title III / Chapter 29 / Section 2BBBB
Commonwealth Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund
Status: in_force

Section 2BBBB. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Commonwealth Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund. The fund shall be credited with all sales tax revenues collected from the sale of alcoholic beverages under chapter 64H which are not part of the dedicated sales tax revenue amount described in section 35T or section 35BB of chapter 10. Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended, subject to appropriation, to support substance abuse treatment and prevention services.

Section 2BBBB. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund to be known as the Commonwealth Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Fund. The fund shall be credited with all sales tax revenues collected from the sale of alcoholic beverages under chapter 64H which are not part of the dedicated sales tax revenue amount described in section 35T or section 35BB of chapter 10. Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended, subject to appropriation, to support substance abuse treatment and prevention services.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 93, sec. 54 — MA Code / Part I / Title XV / Chapter 93 / Section 54
Procedures to be maintained by reporting agency
Status: in_force

Section 54. (a) Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section fifty-two and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section fifty-one. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information will be used for no other purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. No consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section fifty-one. (b) Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares or disseminates a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates.

Section 54. (a) Every consumer reporting agency shall maintain reasonable procedures designed to avoid violations of section fifty-two and to limit the furnishing of consumer reports to the purposes listed under section fifty-one. These procedures shall require that prospective users of the information identify themselves, certify the purposes for which the information is sought, and certify that the information will be used for no other purpose. Every consumer reporting agency shall make a reasonable effort to verify the identity of a new prospective user and the uses certified by such prospective user prior to furnishing such user a consumer report. No consumer reporting agency may furnish a consumer report to any person if it has reasonable grounds for believing that the consumer report will not be used for a purpose listed in section fifty-one.

(b) Whenever a consumer reporting agency prepares or disseminates a consumer report it shall follow reasonable procedures to assure maximum possible accuracy of the information concerning the individual about whom the report relates.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 48, sec. 47 — MA Code / Part I / Title VII / Chapter 48 / Section 47
Engineers; powers and duties
Status: in_force

Section 47. The engineers, in the extinguishment of fires, shall exercise the powers of firewards and, in the nomination and appointment of such firefighters as necessary therefor, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of selectmen. They may appoint such men to the engines, hose and hook and ladder carriages, and constitute such companies for securing property endangered by fire, as they deem expedient.

Section 47. The engineers, in the extinguishment of fires, shall exercise the powers of firewards and, in the nomination and appointment of such firefighters as necessary therefor, shall exercise the powers and perform the duties of selectmen. They may appoint such men to the engines, hose and hook and ladder carriages, and constitute such companies for securing property endangered by fire, as they deem expedient.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 90D, sec. 19 — MA Code / Part I / Title XIV / Chapter 90D / Section 19
Issuance to transferee; surrendered certificates
Status: in_force

Section 19. (a) The registrar, upon receipt of a properly assigned certificate of title, except as provided for in subsection (e) of section 20, with an application for a new certificate of title, the required fee and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner and mail it to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. If under subsection (e) of section 20, the outstanding certificate of title is not delivered to him, the registrar shall make demand therefor from the holder thereof. (b) The registrar upon receipt of any application for a new certificate of title by a transferee other than by voluntary transfer, with proof of the transfer, the required fee and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner. If the outstanding certificate of title is not delivered to him, the registrar shall make demand therefor from the holder thereof. (c) The registrar shall file and retain every surrendered certificate of title in accordance with section 30 of chapter 90.

Section 19. (a) The registrar, upon receipt of a properly assigned certificate of title, except as provided for in subsection (e) of section 20, with an application for a new certificate of title, the required fee and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner and mail it to the first lienholder named in it or, if none, to the owner. If under subsection (e) of section 20, the outstanding certificate of title is not delivered to him, the registrar shall make demand therefor from the holder thereof.

(b) The registrar upon receipt of any application for a new certificate of title by a transferee other than by voluntary transfer, with proof of the transfer, the required fee and any other documents required by law, shall issue a new certificate of title in the name of the transferee as owner. If the outstanding certificate of title is not delivered to him, the registrar shall make demand therefor from the holder thereof.

(c) The registrar shall file and retain every surrendered certificate of title in accordance with section 30 of chapter 90.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 151A, sec. 14Q — MA Code / Part I / Title XXI / Chapter 151A / Section 14Q
Collection of unemployment compensation debt by offset of federal tax refund payments through treasury offset program
Status: in_force

Section 14Q. The commissioner may enter into an agreement with the Secretary of the Department of Treasury, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. section 6402(f) and 31 CFR section 285.8, to transmit valid, unpaid, and overdue unemployment compensation debts to the Financial Management Service, a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, for collection by offset of federal tax refund payments through the treasury offset program. If the commissioner chooses to participate in the treasury offset program to recover unemployment compensation debt, the commissioner shall adhere to all rules, policies, and guidance as required by the United States Department of the Treasury and the United States Department of Labor in implementing and administering the program. The commissioner may promulgate such regulations as needed to implement this section.

Section 14Q. The commissioner may enter into an agreement with the Secretary of the Department of Treasury, pursuant to 26 U.S.C. section 6402(f) and 31 CFR section 285.8, to transmit valid, unpaid, and overdue unemployment compensation debts to the Financial Management Service, a bureau of the United States Department of the Treasury, for collection by offset of federal tax refund payments through the treasury offset program. If the commissioner chooses to participate in the treasury offset program to recover unemployment compensation debt, the commissioner shall adhere to all rules, policies, and guidance as required by the United States Department of the Treasury and the United States Department of Labor in implementing and administering the program. The commissioner may promulgate such regulations as needed to implement this section.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 94, sec. 9H — MA Code / Part I / Title XV / Chapter 94 / Section 9H
Dressing rooms for bakery workers or employees
Status: in_force

Section 9H. In connection with every bakery suitable rooms shall be provided for the changing and hanging of the wearing apparel of the workers or employees, which shall be separate and apart from the work, storage and sales rooms, and shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.

Section 9H. In connection with every bakery suitable rooms shall be provided for the changing and hanging of the wearing apparel of the workers or employees, which shall be separate and apart from the work, storage and sales rooms, and shall be kept in a clean and sanitary condition.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 6, sec. 12WW — MA Code / Part I / Title II / Chapter 6 / Section 12WW
Garden Week
Status: in_force

Section 12WW. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the week beginning with the first Sunday in June as Garden Week, in recognition of the benefits of gardening in preserving our traditional spirit of independence and individual initiative which instills in people a greater respect for the environment and our natural resources, and recommending that said week be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.

Section 12WW. The governor shall annually issue a proclamation setting apart the week beginning with the first Sunday in June as Garden Week, in recognition of the benefits of gardening in preserving our traditional spirit of independence and individual initiative which instills in people a greater respect for the environment and our natural resources, and recommending that said week be observed in an appropriate manner by the people.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 208, sec. 33 — MA Code / Part II / Title III / Chapter 208 / Section 33
Jurisdiction; procedure
Status: in_force

Section 33. The court may, if the course of proceeding is not specially prescribed, hear and determine all matters coming within the purview of this chapter according to the course of proceedings in ecclesiastical courts or in courts of equity, and may issue process of attachment and execution and all other proper and necessary processes. In such proceedings the court shall have jurisdiction in equity of all causes cognizable under the general principles of equity jurisprudence, arising between husband and wife, such jurisdiction to be exercised in accordance with the usual course of practice in equity proceedings.

Section 33. The court may, if the course of proceeding is not specially prescribed, hear and determine all matters coming within the purview of this chapter according to the course of proceedings in ecclesiastical courts or in courts of equity, and may issue process of attachment and execution and all other proper and necessary processes. In such proceedings the court shall have jurisdiction in equity of all causes cognizable under the general principles of equity jurisprudence, arising between husband and wife, such jurisdiction to be exercised in accordance with the usual course of practice in equity proceedings.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 98, sec. 56C — MA Code / Part I / Title XV / Chapter 98 / Section 56C
Placement of cash register; observation of total by customer; penalty
Status: in_force

Section 56C. Whoever maintains a cash register or other mechanical device at a counter for totalling the monetary value of customer purchases at retail which is so hidden or in such a position that the total cannot be observed by the customer shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars or shall be subject to a civil citation as provided in section 29A.

Section 56C. Whoever maintains a cash register or other mechanical device at a counter for totalling the monetary value of customer purchases at retail which is so hidden or in such a position that the total cannot be observed by the customer shall be punished by a fine of fifty dollars or shall be subject to a civil citation as provided in section 29A.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 176H, sec. 13B — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 176H / Section 13B
Applicability of chapter 176W to legal service plans governed by this chapter
Status: in_force

Section 13B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, chapter 176W shall apply to legal services plans governed by this chapter.

Section 13B. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, chapter 176W shall apply to legal services plans governed by this chapter.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 157, sec. 5 — MA Code / Part I / Title XXII / Chapter 157 / Section 5
Investment of reserve fund
Status: in_force

Section 5. At any regular meeting, or at any duly called special meeting, at which a majority of its stockholders are present, a corporation formed under section three may authorize the investment if its reserve fund or any part thereof, first, in the building where it is doing business, or, second, in a first mortgage of real estate owned and occupied as a dwelling by any of its stockholders.

Section 5. At any regular meeting, or at any duly called special meeting, at which a majority of its stockholders are present, a corporation formed under section three may authorize the investment if its reserve fund or any part thereof, first, in the building where it is doing business, or, second, in a first mortgage of real estate owned and occupied as a dwelling by any of its stockholders.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 79A, sec. 13 — MA Code / Part I / Title XIII / Chapter 79A / Section 13
Enforcement of state sanitary code; displacement of persons; moving expenses; state financial assistance; reports
Status: in_force

Section 13. Any public agency displacing one or more persons by issuing an order to vacate real property for the purpose of enforcing Article II of the state sanitary code, pursuant to section one hundred and twenty-seven B of chapter one hundred and eleven, shall provide relocation assistance and a relocation payment to such person or persons for actual reasonable documented expenses in moving his personal property from the real property, unless such payment is otherwise provided. The provisions of this section shall apply only to real property which is not part of or constitutes the entirety of a project where relocation payments would otherwise be required. In instances where such enforcement results in the eviction of occupants, the state shall reimburse the locality carrying out such enforcement for fifty per cent of the costs of providing such relocation assistance and moving payments. Such state financial assistance shall be contingent upon the provision of relocation services and payments as documented by periodic reports as required by regulation pursuant to section twelve.

Section 13. Any public agency displacing one or more persons by issuing an order to vacate real property for the purpose of enforcing Article II of the state sanitary code, pursuant to section one hundred and twenty-seven B of chapter one hundred and eleven, shall provide relocation assistance and a relocation payment to such person or persons for actual reasonable documented expenses in moving his personal property from the real property, unless such payment is otherwise provided. The provisions of this section shall apply only to real property which is not part of or constitutes the entirety of a project where relocation payments would otherwise be required.

In instances where such enforcement results in the eviction of occupants, the state shall reimburse the locality carrying out such enforcement for fifty per cent of the costs of providing such relocation assistance and moving payments. Such state financial assistance shall be contingent upon the provision of relocation services and payments as documented by periodic reports as required by regulation pursuant to section twelve.
Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 255D, sec. 20 — MA Code / Part III / Title IV / Chapter 255D / Section 20
Delinquency and collection charge; dishonored check charge
Status: in_force

Section 20. The holder of a retail installment sale agreement may, if the agreement so provides, collect a delinquency and collection charge on each installment in default for a period of not less than fifteen days in an amount not in excess of five percent of each installment or five dollars, whichever is less, and assess and collect a charge, not to exceed ten dollars, for any check, draft or order for the payment of money submitted in accordance with said agreement which is returned unpaid or not honored by a bank or other depository.

Section 20. The holder of a retail installment sale agreement may, if the agreement so provides, collect a delinquency and collection charge on each installment in default for a period of not less than fifteen days in an amount not in excess of five percent of each installment or five dollars, whichever is less, and assess and collect a charge, not to exceed ten dollars, for any check, draft or order for the payment of money submitted in accordance with said agreement which is returned unpaid or not honored by a bank or other depository.