reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5m (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 5m - Organizational Food Stamp Benefits Trafficking; Penalty

Section 5M. (a) As used in this section, ''organization'' shall mean a corporation for profit or not-for-profit, partnership, limited partnership, joint venture, unincorporated association, estate, trust or other commercial or legal entity; provided, however, that ''organization'' shall not include an entity organized as or by a governmental agency for the execution of a governmental program.  (b) An organization commits the offense of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking if the organization knowingly; (i) uses, sells, transfers, acquires, alters or possesses food stamp benefits or electronic benefit transfer cards in any manner not authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. § 2011, as amended, or the regulations of the department; or (2) presents for payment or redemption food stamp benefits that have been received, transferred, altered or used in violation of this section shall be guilty of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking.  (c) If an organization is alleged to have committed the offense of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking 2 or more times within a 6–month period, any of those offenses may be aggregated and charged in a single count and the offenses so aggregated and charged shall constitute a single offense.  (d) An organization that commits food stamp benefits trafficking as described in subsection (c) shall:  (1) if it is the organization's first offense under this section, be punished by a fine of not less than $5,000;  (2) if it is the organization's second offense under this section, be punished by a fine of not less than $10,000; or  (3) if it is the organization's third or subsequent offense under this section, be punished by a fine of not less than $50,000.  (e) A retail or wholesale organization owner who is convicted of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking and who also possesses a license to sell alcoholic beverages under section 12 of chapter 138 shall be referred to the appropriate licensing authority for possible disciplinary action pursuant to section 64 of said chapter 138.  (f) A retail or wholesale organization owner who is convicted of organizational food stamp benefits trafficking and who also possesses a license to sell lottery tickets under sections 26 and 27 of chapter 10 shall have such license suspended for not less than 2 years and shall be referred to the director of the state lottery commission for possible further disciplinary action.  (g) Crimes under this section may be prosecuted and punished in any county where defendant used, transferred, acquired or possessed food stamp benefits, or the county in which the state agency responsible for administering food stamp benefits is headquartered.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5n (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 5n - Fraud Hotline; Sign Display

Section 5N. The department shall develop and make available on its website for download a sign specifying the department's fraud hotline. Business associations may also maintain a downloadable form of the sign on the business associations' websites. Such sign shall be posted in a conspicuous area in any business accepting electronic benefits transfer cards as a form of payment. Any business accepting electronic benefit transfer cards as a form of payment shall maintain a list of categories of prohibited products under section 5I at each cash register.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 8 - Civil Service Status of Commissioners; Restoration

Section 8. The provisions of section nine A of chapter thirty and the provisions of chapter thirty-one shall not apply to the office of commissioner, deputy commissioner or assistant commissioner. If an employee of the commonwealth or of a political subdivision, as defined in section one of chapter thirty-two, shall be appointed to the office of commissioner, deputy commissioner or assistant commissioner, he shall upon termination of his service in such office be restored to the position which he held immediately prior to such appointment. Such restoration shall be made without impairment of his civil service status or tenure under section nine A of chapter thirty and without loss of seniority, retirement or other rights to which uninterrupted service in such position would have entitled him. During the period of such appointment each person so appointed from a position in the classified civil service shall be eligible to take any competitive promotional examination to which he would have otherwise been eligible.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 9 - Employees of Department; Delegation of Responsibilities

Section 9. The commissioner shall appoint and may remove all employees in the department. All such appointments and removals shall be made in accordance with chapter thirty-one except as provided in section seven of chapter thirty and except for superintendents and assistant superintendents in charitable, medical or other institutions, physicians with full medical responsibility as opposed to administrative responsibility, nurses and nursing attendants in such institutions; provided, however, that whenever, as a condition of receiving federal grants for programs and activities to which the federal standards for a merit system of personnel administration relate, federal requirements make necessary the application of the civil service law and rules to any such position, said position shall be subject to chapter thirty-one. Appointments, promotions or transfers, except transfers to positions with substantially identical authority, duties and responsibility, shall be made only after determination by the personnel administrator that the proposed appointee meets the minimum qualifications required.  The commissioner may delegate all or a portion of his responsibilities as appointing authority under section forty-one of chapter thirty-one to one or more subordinates in the department. The decision of an employee to whom responsibility has been so delegated shall be the decision of the appointing authority.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 10 - Reports; Rules and Regulations; Federal Aid

Section 10. The commissioner shall annually prepare and submit to the governor and the general court, on or before the first day of November, a report which shall contain the description of organization of the department and a concise review of the work of the department and of the institutions under the supervision of the department for the preceding fiscal year and such suggestions and recommendations as to the department and the said institutions and as to the general interests of all persons under its supervision as he considers expedient, together with information embodying the experience of this and other jurisdictions relative to the best and most successful methods of caring for or providing services to such persons as come under its responsibility. The commissioner shall make and from time to time revise and publish such rules and regulations for the conduct of the business of the department and the execution of the programs administered by the department as may be necessary or appropriate. No such rule or regulation shall take effect unless, prior to notice under chapter thirty A, it has been submitted for review to the secretary of administration and, in the case of any rule or regulation relative to Title I, XIV or XVI, of the federal Social Security Act, for review and comment to the secretary of elder affairs. The extent of such review shall be no greater than that allowed by the federal Social Security Act. The department shall take such action as may be necessary or desirable for carrying out its programs and purposes in conformity with all requirements governing the granting of federal aid to the commonwealth. Prior to undertaking any activity or implementing any policy which would affect expenditures for medical assistance under chapter one hundred and eighteen E, including but not limited to identifying individuals eligible for such assistance under said chapter, the commissioner shall assure that such activity or policy is reviewed by the commissioner of medical assistance.  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, 60 days before promulgating or amending any regulation that would alter eligibility for, or the level of benefits provided through the department, other than regulations which would benefit recipients, the department shall file with the clerks of the house of representatives and senate, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the house and senate chairs of the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities a report describing the changes and setting forth justification for any changes.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 11 - Lists of Recipients; Publication; Records; Rules and Regulations

Section 11. No department, bureau or agency of the commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof, which under any provision of law is furnished with the names of recipients of public assistance, shall permit the publication of lists of such names or make use thereof for purposes not directly connected with the administration of such assistance; provided, however, that nothing in this section shall be construed to prohibit disclosure to or access by the bureau of special investigations to the department's records or files for the purposes of fraud detection and control. The commissioner shall make and from time to time revise rules and regulations governing the custody, use and preservation of the records, papers, files and communications of the department.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 14 - Reciprocal Agreements

Section 14. The department is hereby authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states regarding the interstate transportation of poor and indigent persons, and to arrange for the acceptance and support of persons receiving public aid in other states, in accordance with the terms of such reciprocal agreements. The department is hereby further authorized to enter into reciprocal agreements with other states to provide for the support and care of persons receiving aid under chapter one hundred and eighteen or corresponding provisions of law in such other states, during the period of change of residence between states, as provided by section four A of said chapter one hundred and eighteen.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 15 - Disclosure of Information by Banks and Insurance Companies as to Applicant's or Recipient's Deposits; Penalty

Section 15. A treasurer of a savings bank, national bank, trust company, co-operative bank, benefit association, insurance company or safe deposit company authorized to do business in the commonwealth who, upon written request, signed by an officer of the department, unreasonably refuses to inform him of the amount deposited in the corporation or association to the credit of a person named in such request as a charge upon the commonwealth, or as an applicant to the commonwealth for public assistance under chapters one hundred and seventeen, one hundred and eighteen, or who wilfully renders false information in reply to such request, shall forfeit five hundred dollars to the use of the commonwealth. Upon such request, a treasurer, as aforesaid shall furnish the records on deposits and withdrawals during the past five years, concerning any applicant for or recipient of public assistance under chapters one hundred and seventeen, one hundred and eighteen, to any officer of the department.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 17 - Advancement of Funds to Department for Public Assistance; Monthly Report of Disbursements

Section 17. Notwithstanding the provisions of section twenty-two of chapter twenty-nine or any other provisions of law, funds made available by appropriation, or otherwise, for enabling the department to carry out the provisions of law for furnishing public assistance to individuals may be advanced to the department in such sums and subject to such rules and regulations as the comptroller may determine.  The department shall make a monthly report to the comptroller of the amount of funds disbursed by the department subsequent to the previous monthly report and shall certify to the comptroller that such disbursements are substantiated by detailed records and vouchers retained in the custody of the department of transitional assistance.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 18 - Reimbursement of Department; Recipient Arrearages; Furniture Payments

Section 18. In any case where the department is obligated to pay any sums in excess of the approved budget because of an arrearage incurred by the recipient, under any of the programs administered by the department, the department shall be reimbursed in a manner not inconsistent with the federal social security act by deducting the amount of said arrearage from future budget payments to the recipient over a predetermined period of time. Such deduction shall not exceed five per cent of the recipient's total budget allowance.  In any case in which aid is provided for the purpose of purchasing furniture under chapter one hundred and seventeen or one hundred and eighteen to a family with an unemployed father or a father whose whereabouts is unknown, said father shall be liable for reimbursement to the department for the amount of such payment if he is subsequently found to be gainfully employed.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 18a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 18a - Failure of Custodial Parent to Cooperate With Iv&ndash;d Agency

Section 18A. The department shall impose the sanction required by federal law for any applicant or recipient of public assistance who fails, without good cause as defined by federal law, to cooperate and to continue to cooperate with the IV–D agency set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A to establish paternity or to establish, modify or enforce a child support order. An applicant or recipient may contest such sanction at a hearing before the department, but shall have the burden to prove cooperation with the IV–D agency by a preponderance of the evidence.  The IV–D agency shall determine whether an applicant or recipient has cooperated, and is continuing to cooperate, with the IV–D agency. An applicant or recipient shall be deemed not to have cooperated if the applicant or recipient fails, without such good cause, to furnish a sworn statement setting forth sufficient verifiable information about the noncustodial parent or, if more than one person may be the noncustodial parent, about each such person. Such information shall include the name and the social security number of the noncustodial parent, or the name of the noncustodial parent and at least two of the following items for the noncustodial parent: date of birth; address; telephone number; name and address of employer; names of parents; and the manufacturer, model and license number of any motor vehicle owned by the noncustodial parent. An applicant or recipient who knowingly provides false information to the IV–D agency shall be subject to prosecution for perjury.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 19 - Eviction From Furnished Apartment; Furniture; Relocation

Section 19. In the case of an emergency or where a recipient is evicted from a furnished or partially furnished apartment and does not have sufficient basic furniture to set up housekeeping such furniture may be authorized by the department after investigation by the social worker and determination by the district supervisor that a need exists. The department shall make every effort to relocate the recipient in housing similar to that from which the recipient was removed. Where economically desirable, the department may enter into contract for the quantity purchase of such furniture.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 20 - Purchase of Home or Income Producing Property

Section 20. The department may, after approval by the commissioner, authorize the purchase of a home by a recipient where suitable public or private rental accommodations cannot be found.  The department shall have a lien on the property so purchased to the extent of assistance granted toward the purchase of such home. In no event shall such authorization be given for the purchase of income producing property.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 21 - Support and Maintenance; Subrogation of Department; Termination of Assistance; Notice

Section 21. The department shall be subrogated to the rights to support and maintenance of any welfare recipient to the extent of any payments made by the department to such recipient. The department shall obtain from said recipients such information, in the recipient's knowledge and possession, as may be reasonable necessary to enforce the department's right.  When the department proposes to terminate public assistance due to the collection of monthly support in excess of monthly benefits paid, it shall forthwith notify the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A. When the department terminates public assistance for any reason other than the collection of monthly support in excess of benefits paid, it shall forthwith notify said IV–D agency of such action.  Whenever the department notifies a recipient that it proposes to terminate a recipient from assistance, it shall include in such notice a statement of such recipient's right to continued child support services from the IV–D agency.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 22 - Verification of Categorical and Financial Eligibility

Section 22. For the purpose of considering the need for service or assistance of an applicant or recipient of programs provided in accordance with chapters one hundred and seventeen, one hundred and eighteen, and one hundred and eighteen E, the department shall require the verification of all elements of categorical and financial eligibility. Such verification requirements, including home visits by workers assigned to recipients, shall be reasonable and in accordance with federal law and regulations, where applicable. Self-declarations by applicants or recipients of transitional aid to families with dependent children shall be signed under the penalties of perjury and, if possible, shall not be accepted as the sole verification of categorical and financial eligibility during eligibility evaluations and reviews.  The department shall determine what verification requirements can be reasonably met by third party affidavits and shall provide notification to recipients and applicants of the circumstances that third party affidavits may be used; provided, however, that all work participation forms shall be verified by a third party who shall sign the work participation form under the penalties of perjury. For the purposes of verification, the department may accept a payroll stub that contains an employer's federal employment identification number. The department shall establish reasonable procedures for the verification of continuing eligibility, including monthly reporting and retrospective budgeting where appropriate. Except for eligibility requirements which the department has determined to be subject to frequent variation, the department shall not terminate benefits to recipients for failure to provide reverification without a reasonable belief that the condition has changed for which reverification is requested. The department shall promulgate uniform rules and regulations designating which eligibility requirements are subject to frequent variation.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18 - Department of Transitional Assistance|Section 26 - Direct Payment of Rent; Public Housing; Appeal

Section 26. The department may, upon the written request of any person, trust, corporation, or housing authority, that operates or manages any federal, state or municipally subsidized housing or housing project, pay directly to said manager or operator the rent of recipients of public assistance by deducting an amount equal to the rent from the amount otherwise payable to said recipients; provided, however, that the department receives written notification from the code enforcement agency of the city or town that the housing conforms to the minimum requirements established by said agency. The recipient shall have a right of appeal, as provided in section sixteen, to any decision made by the department regarding direct rent payment under this section.