reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 75 § 46 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 75 - University of Massachusetts|Section 46 - Office of Dispute Resolution

Section 46. There shall be at the University of Massachusetts at Boston an office of dispute resolution under the supervision and control of a director who shall be appointed by the provost with the approval of the chancellor and concurrence of the board of trustees. The director shall be a person with substantial training and professional experience in dispute resolution, shall maintain complete impartiality with respect to the matters coming before the office of dispute resolution, and shall devote full time to the duties of the office.  The office of dispute resolution shall be available to assist agencies and offices of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the commonwealth, as well as any political subdivision or public instrumentality created by the commonwealth or any county, city, or town, hereafter referred to as public agencies, to improve the resolution of disputes that arise within their respective jurisdictions. The office may: (a) facilitate the resolution of disputes through provision of impartial mediation and other dispute resolution services; (b) establish standards for the selection, assignment, and conduct of persons acting on behalf of the office in the resolution of disputes; (c) conduct educational programs and provide other services designed to reduce the occurrence, scope, complexity, or cost of disputes; (d) design, develop, or operate dispute resolution programs or to assist public agencies to improve or extend their existing dispute resolution programs; and (e) take other action to promote and facilitate dispute resolution by public agencies in the commonwealth. The director may establish reasonable fees to be charged to parties, litigants, or public agencies for the provision of the educational, consultation, dispute resolution, or other services authorized herein and may apply for and accept on behalf of the commonwealth any federal, local, or private grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions to aid in the financing of any of the programs or activities of the office. Fees, grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions shall be received by the University of Massachusetts at Boston and deposited in a separate account and shall be expended, without further appropriation, at the direction of the director, with the approval of the provost, for the cost of operation of the office, including personnel. The office may make agreements with public agencies and officers and may contract with other persons, including private agencies, corporations, or associations, to carry out any of the functions and purposes of this section. The office shall annually prepare a report on the activities of the office, including all income and expenditures, and file the report with the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before December 31.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 1a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 1a - Pupil Absence Notification Programs

Section 1A. Upon the acceptance of this section by the local legislative body of a city or town, or by a majority vote of two-thirds of the member communities of a regional school district, the school committee of a city, town or regional school district shall establish a pupil absence notification program in all schools under its control. Said program may be developed with the assistance of the department of education. The parents or guardians of each pupil shall, annually, at the commencement of each school year, be sent a notice instructing them to call a designated telephone number at a designated time to inform the school of the absence of a pupil and the reason therefor. Said notice shall also require such parent or guardian to furnish the school with a home, work or other emergency telephone number where they can be contacted during the school day. If a pupil is absent and the school has not been notified by the designated time, the school shall call the telephone number or numbers furnished to inquire about said absence.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 1b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 1b - Pupil Absence Notification Program

Section 1B. The school committee of each city, town or regional school district shall have a pupil absence notification program in each of its schools. The program shall be designed to ensure that each school notifies a parent or guardian of the child's absence if the school has not received notification of the absence from the parent or guardian within 3 days of the absence.  Each school committee shall have a policy of notifying the parent or guardian of a student who has at least 5 days in which the student has missed 2 or more periods unexcused in a school year or who has missed 5 or more school days unexcused in a school year. The notification policy shall require that the school principal or headmaster, or a designee, make a reasonable effort to meet with the parent or guardian of a student who has 5 or more unexcused absences to develop action steps for student attendance. The action steps shall be developed jointly and agreed upon by the school principal or headmaster, or a designee, the student and the student's parent or guardian and with input from other relevant school personnel and officials from relevant public safety, health and human service, housing and nonprofit agencies.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 2 - Duties of Parents; Penalty

Section 2. Every person in control of a child described in section one shall cause him to attend school as therein required, and, if he fails so to do for seven day sessions or fourteen half day sessions within any period of six months, he shall, on complaint by a supervisor of attendance, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars. No physical or mental condition capable of correction, or rendering the child a fit subject for special instruction at public charge in institutions other than public day schools, shall avail as a defence unless it appears that the defendant has employed all reasonable measures for the correction of the condition and the suitable instruction of the child. The Boston juvenile court shall have jurisdiction within the territorial limits described in section fifty-seven of chapter two hundred and eighteen of complaints hereunder. The Worcester juvenile court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with the central district court of Worcester, of complaints hereunder. The Springfield juvenile court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with the district court of Springfield, of complaints hereunder. The Bristol county juvenile court shall have jurisdiction, concurrent with all of the district courts of Bristol county, of complaints hereunder, and the presiding judge of said court shall establish hearing dates on a circuit basis to be held in such respective courts. Complaints hereunder brought in other district courts shall be heard in the juvenile sessions thereof.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 2a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 2a - Attendance of Deaf Children; Penalty

Section 2A. Every person in control of a deaf child between seven and eighteen shall cause such child to attend some suitable school, approved by the department, where the deaf are taught speech and speech reading; provided, that this section shall not apply to such a child whose mental condition or whose physical condition in other respects than deafness is such as to render such attendance inexpedient or impractical or who is being given private instruction, approved by the department, during the time the public schools are in session. Failure for one month during any school year by any person in control of such a child to cause his attendance as aforesaid shall, on complaint by a supervisor of attendance, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 3 - Attendance of Illiterate Minors; Penalties

Section 3. Every minor between sixteen and eighteen who does not meet the requirements for the completion of the sixth grade of the public schools of the town where the minor resides shall, except as otherwise provided herein, attend some public evening school, if any, in the town of the minor's residence, for the whole time during which the public evening schools are in session, unless the minor attends a public day school, or a private school approved as provided in section one by the school committee, or unless the minor's physical or mental condition is such as to render the minor's attendance harmful or impractical. Any such minor may, with the consent of the school committee of the town in which the minor resides, attend a public evening school in the town where the minor is employed, upon such terms as may be agreed upon by the school committees of such towns. Wilful violations of this section by such a minor shall be punished by a fine of not less than five dollars; failure for six sessions within a period of one month by any person in control of such a minor to cause the minor's attendance shall, on complaint by a supervisor of attendance, be punished by a fine of not more than twenty dollars.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 4 - Inducing Absences; Penalty

Section 4. Whoever induces or attempts to induce a minor to absent himself unlawfully from school, or unlawfully employs him or harbors a minor who, while school is in session, is absent unlawfully therefrom, shall be punished by a fine of not more than two hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 5 - Place of Attendance; Violations; Discrimination

Section 5. Every person shall have a right to attend the public schools of the town where he actually resides, subject to the following section. No school committee is required to enroll a person who does not actually reside in the town unless said enrollment is authorized by law or by the school committee. Any person who violates or assists in the violation of this provision may be required to remit full restitution to the town of the improperly-attended public schools. No person shall be excluded from or discriminated against in admission to a public school of any town, or in obtaining the advantages, privileges and courses of study of such public school on account of race, color, sex, gender identity, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 6 - Payment of Tuition for Non-Resident Children

Section 6. If a child resides temporarily in a town other than the legal residence of his parent or guardian for the special purpose of their attending school, the child may attend school with the authorization of the school committee of said town, and the said town may recover tuition from the parent or guardian, unless under section twelve of chapter seventy-six, such tuition is payable by a town. Tuition payable by the parent or guardian shall, for the period of attendance, be computed at the regular rate established by the school committee for non-resident pupils, but in no case exceeding the average expense per pupil in such school for said period. The school committee of the town in which a child is temporarily residing for the special purpose of their attending school may waive all or part of the tuition charge for such child.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 7 - Tuition; Children Under Control of Department of Children and Families; Foster Care; Reimbursement

Section 7. For the tuition in the public schools of any city, town, or regional school district of any school age child placed in foster care or group care elsewhere than in his home town by, or there kept under the control of, the department of children and families, the commonwealth shall fully reimburse said city, town, or regional school district for the child's tuition each day the child is enrolled in a public elementary or secondary school. The amount of said reimbursement shall be based on the average annual per pupil cost of education in the city, town, or regional school district, as determined by the department of education.  For purposes of reimbursement under this section, every superintendent of schools shall, as part of the annual statement required to be filed with the commissioner of education under chapter seventy, report on a form provided by the department of education the number of school age children placed in foster care or group care in the city, town or regional school district by the department of children and families and the duration of their public school enrollment there, and shall support each such claim with appropriate documentation as required by the commissioner of education.  The names and addresses of foster children enrolled in a school system and the designation of a student as a foster child or ward of the commonwealth shall be confidential and shall not be disclosed by any employee of the commonwealth or of any political subdivision thereof, except for the purpose of reporting to the commissioner of education pursuant to this section.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 9 - High School Tuition of Children Under Control of Department of Public Welfare, Etc.

Section 9. If a city or town where a school age child is placed or kept under section seven does not maintain a public high school offering four years of instruction, said school age child may, subject to section six of chapter seventy-one, attend the public high school of another city, town or regional school district, but the commonwealth shall under section seven reimburse the city or town where he is so placed or kept, for tuition paid by it on his account.  Said reimbursement shall be based on appropriate documentation filed by the superintendent of schools of said city or town, as required by the commissioner of education.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 10 - Settlements of Accounts Between Towns and Department of Public Welfare, Etc.

Section 10. Settlements of the accounts of the several towns under the three preceding sections with the commonwealth and with Boston shall be made annually on July first, and the amounts found due shall be paid within three months thereafter.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 11 - Tuition of Children in Institutions

Section 11. Any city, town or regional school district which provides instruction to any child who is a resident of an institution and who was not theretofore a resident of such city, town or regional school district may recover from the commonwealth the school expense incurred by reason of the school attendance of such child to be determined jointly by the school committee of such city, town or regional school district and the department of education or, in case of their disagreement, by the probate court. The amount recoverable by a city, town or regional school district under this section shall be limited to the annual per pupil cost of education as determined under section seven; provided, however, that any amount expended in excess of said annual per pupil expenditure in said city, town or regional school district shall be recoverable under the provisions of sections two and three of chapter seventy.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 12 - Attendance Outside Place of Residence

Section 12. Any child, with the consent of the school committee of the town where he resides, may attend, at the expense of said town, the public schools of another town, upon such terms as may be fixed by the two committees.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 12c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 12c - School Choice Tuition Trust Fund

Section 12C. There shall be established upon the books of the commonwealth a separate fund, to be known as the School Choice Tuition Trust Fund. The state treasurer shall deposit in such fund all school choice tuition amounts deducted from education aid of sending districts, all amounts deducted from other aid to cities and towns, and amounts appropriated due to an excess of deductions over such other aid, as such terms and amounts are defined in section twelve B. Monies in the fund shall be disbursed, without further appropriation, by the treasurer to receiving districts as such districts' school choice tuition amounts due such receiving districts, as such terms and amounts are defined in section twelve B.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 13 - Transfer Cards

Section 13. When any child described in section one leaves the school or institution where he is being educated because of change of residence to another town in the commonwealth, the superintendent of schools, in the case of a public school, or otherwise the person in charge, shall furnish such child a transfer card in a form prescribed by the department of education which shall contain, in addition to any other information relative to him, his name, age, grade in school, and in every case possible, his new street and number, and shall forthwith send a duplicate thereof to the superintendent of schools of the town where the child is to reside.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 14 - Island Children; Transportation

Section 14. The department of education may provide transportation to and from school, or board in place thereof, for such children of school age as live upon islands within the commonwealth that are without schools, in cases where the local authorities are not required by law to provide such transportation.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 15 - Vaccination and Immunization

Section 15. No child shall, except as hereinafter provided, be admitted to school except upon presentation of a physician's certificate that the child has been successfully immunized against diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus, measles and poliomyelitis and such other communicable diseases as may be specified from time to time by the department of public health.  A child shall be admitted to school upon certification by a physician that he has personally examined such child and that in his opinion the physical condition of the child is such that his health would be endangered by such vaccination or by any of such immunizations. Such certification shall be submitted at the beginning of each school year to the physician in charge of the school health program. If the physician in charge of the school health program does not agree with the opinion of the child's physician, the matter shall be referred to the department of public health, whose decision will be final.  In the absence of an emergency or epidemic of disease declared by the department of public health, no child whose parent or guardian states in writing that vaccination or immunization conflicts with his sincere religious beliefs shall be required to present said physician's certificate in order to be admitted to school.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 15a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 15a - Sickle Cell Anemia; Blood Tests

Section 15A. Every child, which the commissioner of public health, by rule or regulation, may determine is susceptible to the disease known as sickle cell trait or sickle cell anemia, shall be required to have a blood test to determine whether or not he has such disease before being admitted to a public school, or in the first year of attendance in a public school. Such rule or regulation shall include provisions for the preparation and distribution of educational materials relating to sickle cell trait and sickle cell anemia.
MA Gen L ch 76 § 15b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XII - Education|Chapter 76 - School Attendance|Section 15b - Screening Programs, Testing, Treatment, Etc. for Sickle Cell Anemia and Related Genetically-Linked Diseases; Rules and Regulations; Records and Information, Disclosure Restricted

Section 15B. The department of public health shall furnish necessary laboratory and testing facilities for a voluntary screening program for sickle cell anemia or for the sickle cell trait and for such genetically-linked diseases as may from time to time be determined by the commissioner of public health, such as Tay-sachs disease, Cooley's anemia and hemophilia, which shall be established by each city and town. The commissioner shall promulgate rules and regulations for the testing, treatment, care and counseling of all susceptible persons. The most appropriate age for screening and the method of screening shall be determined and redetermined by the commissioner in accordance with said regulations in the light of technical and laboratory changes. Any screening programs which may be established shall include provisions for a complete health education and post-screening counseling service and for such treatment of those affected by any blood abnormality as the commissioner by regulation may determine to be appropriate or practical. Records maintained as part of any screening program shall be confidential and shall not be accessible to anyone other than the commissioner of public health or his agents or to the local health department which is conducting the screening program except by permission of the parents or guardian of any child or adolescent who has been screened. Information on the results of any particular screening program shall be limited to notification to the parents or guardian of the result if the person screened is under the age of eighteen or to said person himself if he is over the age of eighteen. The results may be used otherwise only for collective statistical purposes.