reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 55b § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission|Section 9 - Hearings on Objections

Section 9. Hearings on objections to certificates of nomination or nomination papers, except for special primaries and elections, shall not be held prior to the second Monday following the Friday for filing such objections.  Hearings on objections to signatures on initiative or referendum petitions shall not be held prior to the second Monday following the last day for filing such objections.  Hearings on objections to supplemental signature filings for initiative petitions shall not be held prior to the first Wednesday following the last day for filing such objections.  Hearings on objections to nominations at regular state primaries shall not be held prior to the Monday following the last day for filing such objections.
MA Gen L ch 55b § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission|Section 10 - Decisions

Section 10. The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it, pertaining to certificates of nomination or nomination papers for any presidential or biennial state primaries or any biennial state election or to withdrawals of nomination therefore, not later than five o'clock post meridian on the twenty-first day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such certificates or papers or for filing such withdrawals, as the case may be, under the provisions of this chapter. The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it pertaining to nominations made at biennial state primaries, not later than five o'clock post meridian on the fourteenth day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such nominations.  The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it, pertaining to objections that signatures appearing on an initiative or referendum petition have been forged or placed thereon by fraud and that in consequence thereof the petition has not been signed by a sufficient number of qualified voters actually supporting such petition, as required by the constitution, no later than the twenty-first day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such signatures. The commission shall render a decision on any objection filed with respect to the supplemental filing of signatures for initiative petition to be placed on the ballot after the rejection by the legislature of such petition no later than five o'clock post meridian in the afternoon on the fourteenth day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such signatures.  The commission shall render a decision on any matter referred to it pertaining to certificates of nomination or nomination papers for any special state primary or special state election not later than five o'clock post meridian in the afternoon on the fourth day after the last day fixed for filing objections to such certificates or papers.
MA Gen L ch 55b § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission|Section 11 - Vacating Nominations; Nonexisting Persons; False Names

Section 11. If objection is filed under section five or section seven by a person duly nominated for any state, city or town office alleging that an apparent nomination for the same office is a fictitious or nonexisting person or that the name under which a person has been apparently nominated for such office is not his true name, the commission or the proper board named in section six shall summon the apparent nominee to appear before it and submit to examination. If no person appears in response to such summons or if a person representing himself to be the nominee appears and after a hearing the commission or board is satisfied that the allegations contained in such objection are true, the commission or board shall sustain the objection and vacate the nomination.
MA Gen L ch 55b § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55b - The State Ballot Law Commission|Section 12 - Records of Decisions; Transcripts of Hearings

Section 12. The commission shall be required to keep records of all decisions and an official transcript of all proceedings of the hearings. These documents shall be stored in the office of the state secretary. The commission shall upon written request provide any person appealing a decision by the commission a copy of the transcript from hearings pertaining to his case, in accordance with rules and regulations established in conformance with chapter thirty A. All records and transcripts of the commission shall be open to the public.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. Unless a contrary intention clearly appears, the words and phrases used in this chapter shall have the following meanings:  ''Director'', the director of campaign and political finance as established by chapter 55.  ''Candidate'', any candidate as defined by chapter 55.  ''Statewide elective office'', the office of governor, lieutenant-governor, attorney general, secretary, treasurer and receiver general and auditor.  ''Contribution'', any contribution as defined by chapter 55.  ''Qualifying contribution'', any contribution made by an individual and deposited in a candidate's depository account as required by section nineteen of chapter 55 during the calendar year in which elections are held for statewide elective office or the next preceding calendar year except as follows: (a) no contribution shall be considered a qualifying contribution unless the name and address of the individual making the contribution can be determined from statements required to be filed with the director; (b) no contribution shall be considered a qualifying contribution to the extent that it exceeds $250 or would exceed $250 when added to any such contribution previously made by the same individual during the calendar year in which elections are held for statewide elective office or the next preceding calendar year.  The same contribution may be a qualifying contribution for both the primary election and the state election in a year in which elections are held for statewide elective office but no contribution shall remain a qualified contribution after the end of any such year.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 2 - Qualifying Candidates

Section 2. On or before the ninth Tuesday before the primary election in any year in which elections are held for statewide elective office the state secretary shall determine and certify to the director and the state treasurer the names and addresses of all candidates for statewide elective office who qualify for the primary ballot and are opposed, by one or more candidates who have qualified for the same ballot in the primary election. For purposes of this chapter any candidate for statewide elective office for whom certificates of nomination and nomination papers have been filed in apparent conformity with law shall be considered qualified for the ballot notwithstanding any objections thereto that may be filed and notwithstanding any vacancy that may occur following the filing of such certificates of nominations and nomination papers other than a vacancy caused by withdrawal of a candidate within the time allowed by law. On or before the fifth Tuesday before the state election in any such year the state secretary shall determine and certify to the director and to the state treasurer the names and addresses of all candidates for statewide elective office who qualify for the state election ballot and are opposed by one or more candidates who have qualified for the state election ballot. For purposes of this chapter any candidate for statewide elective office for whom certificates of nomination and nomination papers have been filed in apparent conformity with law shall be considered qualified for the ballot, as provided with respect to candidates for the primary election, and any, such candidates nominated at the primary election shall be considered qualified for the ballot notwithstanding any objections thereto that may be filed and notwithstanding any vacancy that may occur other than a vacancy caused by withdrawal of a candidate within the time allowed by law. The state secretary shall promptly determine and certify to the director and state treasurer the name and address of any candidate that no longer qualifies for the primary or state election ballot or no longer has opposition because of death or withdrawal or ineligibility for office or because objections to certificates of nomination and nomination papers have been sustained or because of a recount or for any other like reason.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 3 - Limited Public Financing Eligibility

Section 3. The director shall determine and certify to the state treasurer those candidates for statewide elective office that are eligible for limited public financing as provided in sections 4 and 6 and shall determine and certify to the state treasurer the amounts due to each eligible candidate as provided in sections 5 and 7.  The director shall prescribe and make available forms on which statements of qualifying contributions shall be filed by candidates, which statements shall contain the name and address of each individual making a contribution, the amount of the contribution and date of deposit, the cumulative total of all contributions made by that individual during the calendar year in which elections are held for statewide elective office and the next preceding calendar year and shall contain such other information and shall be organized in such a manner as the director may reasonably require to expedite the determinations required to be made by the director by this chapter. The director shall notify candidates of any amounts determined by the director to be due from candidates under section nine and shall direct that such amounts be paid to the state election campaign fund. On or before January 30 of any year next following a year in which elections are held for statewide elective office the director shall prepare and submit a report relating to the matters entrusted to him under this chapter to the clerk of the senate and to the commission established by section 3 of chapter 55 and shall make copies of such report available to any person upon payment of the reasonable cost of copying or reproduction.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 4 - Minimum Financing Available; Primary Election

Section 4. Any candidate for statewide elective office certified by the state secretary under section 2 as qualifying for the ballot and having opposition in primary election shall be eligible to receive limited public financing of his primary election campaign, to the extent provided by section 5, on determination and certification by the director that the candidate (a) has filed a request for public financing with the director together with the bond required by section 8; (b) has filed with the director a statement under subsection (a) of section 1A agreeing to abide by the expenditure limits provided thereby; and (c) has received qualifying contributions as defined by section 1 in at least the following minimum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:  Governor $75,000  Lieutenant Governor 15,000  Attorney General 37,500  Secretary 15,000  Treasurer and Receiver General 15,000  Auditor 15,000  Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, shall be considered in determining whether any such minimum amount has been met. Determination and certification of the eligibility of candidates shall be made by the director on the eighth Tuesday before the primary and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed by candidates. Candidates for governor seeking public financing shall file the statement on or before the Friday that is 11 days preceding said eighth Tuesday and other candidates seeking public financing shall file said statements on or before the Friday next preceding said eighth Tuesday.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 5 - Maximum Financing Available; Primary Election

Section 5. Any candidate eligible to receive limited public financing of his primary election campaign shall, on determination and certification by the director, be entitled to an amount equal to $1 for each one dollar of qualifying contributions as defined by section 1, subject to the following limitations: (a) no candidate shall be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the balance then remaining in the primary candidate account established for that candidate under section 42 of chapter 10; (b) nor shall any candidate be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the following maximum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:  Governor $750,000  Lieutenant Governor 312,500  Attorney General 312,500  Secretary 187,500  Treasurer and Receiver General 187,500  Auditor 187,500  Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, shall be considered in determining amounts to which candidates are entitled. Determinations and certifications of the amounts to which eligible candidates are entitled shall be made by the director on or before the eighth, sixth, fourth and second Tuesday before the primary election and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed prior to such dates.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 6 - Minimum Financing Available; State Election

Section 6. Any candidate for statewide elective office certified by the state secretary under section two as qualifying for the ballot and having opposition in the state election shall be eligible to receive limited public financing of his state election campaign, to the extent provided by section 7, on determination and certification by the director that the candidate (a) has filed a request for public financing with the director together with the bond required by section 8; (b) has filed with the director a statement under subsection (a) of section 1A agreeing to abide by the expenditure limits provided thereby; and (c) has received qualifying contributions as defined by section 1 in at least the following minimum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:  Governor and Lieutenant Governor $125,000  Attorney General 62,500  Secretary 25,000  Treasurer and Receiver General 25,000  Auditor 25,000  Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, shall be considered in determining whether any such minimum amount has been met. Determination and certification of the eligibility of candidates shall be made by the director on the fourth Tuesday before the state election and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed by candidates. Candidates for governor and lieutenant governor seeking public financing shall file the statement on or before the Friday that is 11 days preceding said fourth Tuesday and other candidates seeking public financing shall file said statements on or before the Friday next preceding said fourth Tuesday.  The fact that a qualifying contribution has previously been considered in determining eligibility for, or the extent of, public financing of a candidate's primary election campaign shall not prevent consideration of the same contribution in determining eligibility for public financing of such candidate's state election campaign.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 7 - Maximum Financing Available; State Election

Section 7. Any candidate eligible to receive limited public financing of his state election campaign shall, on determination and certification by the director, be entitled to an amount equal to $1 for each one dollar of qualifying contributions as defined by section one subject to section nine and subject to the following limitations: (a) no candidate shall be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the balance then remaining in the state election candidate account established for that candidate under section 43 of chapter 10; (b) nor shall any candidate be entitled to receive any amount in excess of the following maximum amounts for the following statewide elective offices:  Governor and Lieutenant Governor $750,000  Attorney General 312,500  Secretary 187,500  Treasurer and Receiver General 187,500  Auditor 187,500  Only amounts appearing in statements of qualifying contributions filed with the director, in such form as he shall prescribe, stall be considered in determining amounts to which candidates are entitled. Determinations and certifications of the amounts to which eligible candidates are entitled shall be made by the director on or before the fourth and second Tuesday before the state election and shall be based solely upon information contained in such statements as have been filed prior to such dates.  The fact that a qualifying contribution has previously been considered in determining eligibility for, or the extent of, public financing of a candidate's primary election campaign shall not prevent consideration of the same contribution in determining the extent of public financing of such candidate's state election campaign.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 8 - Bond for Faithful Compliance

Section 8. No candidate shall be eligible to receive public financing under this chapter unless and until the candidate deposits with the director a bond for the faithful compliance by such candidate and any political committee organized on his behalf with the provisions of this chapter. Such bond shall be in a form approved by the director, shall be signed by such candidate and the chairman and treasurer of any such committee, shall run to the commonwealth, shall be in force during the year in which elections for statewide elective office are held and for the following calendar year. The bond deposited for the purpose of receiving public financing for the primary election campaign must be for the amount which the comptroller has credited to the account established on behalf of that candidate for the primary election campaign. The bond deposited for the purpose of receiving public financing for the state election campaign must be for the amount which the comptroller has credited to the account established on behalf of that candidate for the state election campaign, but in the case of a candidate for governor, the bond on behalf of said candidate shall be in the amount which the comptroller has credited to the account established on behalf of that governor and lieutenant governor team.  On determination by the director that a candidate has failed to make the payments to the state treasurer required by section 9 the director may request the attorney general to bring an action in the name of the state treasurer upon the bond of such candidate and his political committee and may recover for the benefit of the state election campaign fund, up to the sum of such bond, any such payments so required. Any such action shall be in addition to remedies otherwise available by law and no action on any such bond shall preclude the director from bringing such other civil or criminal proceedings as may otherwise be provided by law.
MA Gen L ch 55c § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VIII - Elections|Chapter 55c - Limited Public Financing of Campaigns for Statewide Elective Office|Section 9 - Statement of Surplus Balance

Section 9. Within 2 weeks following any primary or state election for statewide elective office any candidate who has received public financing under this chapter shall file a statement with the director showing the balance remaining in the candidate's depository account as of the primary or state election less any reserve necessary to cover debts incurred to defray campaign expenditures incurred during such primary or state election. Except as provided in this section, any candidate having a surplus balance following any such primary or state election shall thereupon pay to the state treasurer for deposit to the State Election Campaign Fund an amount determined by multiplying such surplus balance by a fraction the numerator of which is the total amount of public financing received on account of such primary or state election campaign and the denominator of which is the sum of such public financing received and all contributions received by such candidate. No candidate having a surplus balance following the primary election shall be required to make any payment on account of such surplus if such candidate is certified by the state secretary under section 2 as qualifying for the ballot and having opposition in the state election and is certified by the director of campaign and political finance as eligible for public financing for the state election within 3 weeks following such primary election. In determining and certifying the amount to which any such candidate is entitled under section 7, the director shall reduce the amount that would otherwise be determined under that section by an amount equal to the amount that such candidate would be required to pay to the state treasurer under this section but for this sentence.  If the director determines that any portion of the payments made to an eligible candidate under this chapter was in excess of the aggregate amount of the payments to which the candidate was entitled he shall so notify the candidate and he shall thereupon pay to the state treasurer an amount equal to the excess amount.  If the director determines that any portion of the payments made to a candidate under this chapter for use in his primary election campaign or his state election campaign was used for any purpose other than to defray campaign expenditures in that campaign, or to repay loans the proceeds of which were used to defray campaign expenditures in that campaign, the director shall so notify the candidate and he shall thereupon pay an amount equal to the full amount so used to the state treasurer without regard to the source of the funds so used.  Any candidate who fails to pay an amount determined by the director to be due within 10 days of notice thereof shall be subject to a penalty of $50 per day for every day that such amount remains unpaid.