reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 18 § 1 (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 1 - Department of Transitional Assistance

Section 1. There shall be a department of transitional assistance, in this chapter called the department.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 2b (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 2b - Educational Program; Services

Section 2B. (a) Subject to appropriation, the department of transitional assistance shall create an educational program to be implemented in each department of transitional assistance office. The educational program shall: (i) provide financial education information as described in this section and assist in the development of economic independence goals under section 15 of chapter 118; (ii) inform the recipient of available transportation options; (iii) identify available education and training resources available to the recipient; (iv) educate the recipient about proper card usage, card and PIN security and penalties for abuse or fraud associated with trafficking or fraudulent representation of need of transitional aid; (v) educate the recipient about the advantages of having a bank account and basic financial management; (vi) identify local job opportunities, where available; and (vii) educate the recipient about other topics that the department considers appropriate.  (b) As part of the program, in consultation with the department of higher education, the community college system, the public university system, and the University of Massachusetts system, the department shall maintain in each local office an up-to-date list, which shall include: (i) a description of all educational certificate programs and higher education programs, which may be available to the recipient; (ii) financial aid officials at public institutions of higher education; and (iii) financial aid programs, including, but not limited to, scholarships, grants, loans and work study programs. The program shall also counsel children age 14 and older, whose parents receive transitional aid for families with dependent children, on how to access higher education without incurring debt.  (c) As part of the program, the department shall provide recipients with a list of already existing free or low-cost financial education programs. In developing the list of financial education programs, the department shall collaborate with the office of the state treasurer, the Massachusetts Credit Union League, the Massachusetts Bankers Association, the Midas Collaborative, the Moving from Debt to Assets program and the Massachusetts Financial Education Collaborative. Any financial education program included on the recommended program list shall, at a minimum, provide guidance on: (i) tracking daily spending habits; (ii) preparing a monthly budget; (iii) identifying ways to decrease spending; (iv) identifying ways to increase income; (v) listing and prioritizing financial goals; and (vi) recognizing how to create a plan to achieve financial goals.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 3 (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 3 - Commissioner; Appointment; Qualifications; Salary

Section 3. The department shall be under the direction, supervision and control of a commissioner of transitional assistance, in this chapter called the commissioner. The secretary of health and human services shall appoint, with the approval of the governor, the commissioner who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and may be removed by the secretary at any time, subject to the approval of the governor. At the time of appointment, the commissioner shall be a graduate of an accredited four-year college or university and shall have had not less than ten years of administrative experience; or not less than eight years of administrative experience of which at least three years shall have been in the organization, management or delivery of human services; or a doctorate or other degree beyond the level of the baccalaureate in the field of business, economics, education, government, law, medicine, psychology, public administration, public health, public policy, social work, urban planning, or a field substantially related to one or more of the foregoing, and not less than five years of administrative experience of which at least two years shall have been in the organization, management or delivery of human services. For the purposes of this section, ''administrative experience'' shall mean service in a management, or supervisory capacity. The position of commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty, and said commissioner shall devote full time during business hours to the duties of the office.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 4 (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 4 - Deputy Commissioner; Assistant Commissioners; Qualifications; Salaries; Succession; Bond

Section 4. The commissioner shall appoint a deputy commissioner and such assistant commissioners, not to exceed four in number, as the commissioner may determine to be necessary or desirable to carry out the work of the department. The deputy and assistant commissioners shall be assigned areas of responsibility to be specified by the commissioner. At the time of appointment the deputy commissioner and each such assistant commissioner shall possess qualifications of training and experience generally similar to those required of the commissioner or otherwise suitably preparing him for the work of his office. The position of deputy commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty. The positions of assistant commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty.  The deputy commissioner and the assistant commissioners shall devote their full time during business hours to the duties of their respective offices. If the office of the commissioner becomes vacant, the deputy commissioner shall discharge the duties and have the powers of the commissioner. During the absence or disability of the commissioner, the deputy commissioner shall discharge the duties and have the powers of the commissioner; and, if the office of the deputy commissioner is vacant or if the deputy commissioner is absent or disabled at the same time as the commissioner, an assistant commissioner designated by the commissioner shall discharge the duties and have the powers of the commissioner. The deputy commissioner and each assistant commissioner shall give a bond to the state treasurer for the faithful performance of his duties in such sum as the comptroller may prescribe.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5b (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 5b - False Representations or Failure to Disclose Facts; Penalty

Section 5B. Any person or institution which knowingly makes a false representation or, contrary to a legal duty to do so, knowingly fails to disclose any material fact affecting eligibility or level of benefits to the department of public welfare or its agents, for the purpose of causing any person, including the person making such representations, to be supported in whole or in part by the commonwealth, or for the purpose of procuring a payment under any assistance program administered by the department, shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year.  Nothing in this section shall be construed as preventing the institution of criminal proceedings for the violation of any other law of the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5c (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 5c - Vendors' Bill for Services; Perjury

Section 5C. Any vendor under any assistance program administered by the department shall submit to the department, within six months of the last day of the month in which such service was rendered, a bill for the same; except that, in cases in which services have been rendered in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-four A of chapter one hundred and seventeen, said bill shall be submitted to the department within six months after the date on which the request for assistance has been approved. The department shall verify the accuracy of bills submitted under this section through the application of statistical sampling methods. For the purposes of this chapter a vendor shall be any person or institution providing services in connection with any assistance program administered by the department. All vouchers submitted by a vendor shall be signed under the penalties of perjury.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5d (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 5d - Vendors; Violations

Section 5D. Any vendor procuring a payment under any assistance program administered by the department who violates any of the provisions of section five B or of sections twenty-one A to twenty-one G, inclusive, of chapter one hundred and eighteen E shall be ineligible to participate further in the program for a period of three years next subsequent to the date of conviction for said violation; provided, however, that a vendor shall not be considered in violation of said section five B or of said sections twenty-one A to twenty-one G, inclusive, upon submission of proof, to the satisfaction of the commissioner, that such violation was due solely to a clerical or administrative error.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5e (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 5e - Return of Unlawful Payments

Section 5E. Any recipient or vendor who receives payment under any assistance program administered by the department, to which he is not entitled, shall return such payment to the commonwealth by paying the same to the state treasurer as soon as demand is made upon him.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5f (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 5f - Father's Leaving Family to Obtain Assistance; Penalty

Section 5F. A father who leaves his family for the purpose of qualifying them for assistance under any of the programs administered by the department shall be punished by a fine of not less than two hundred nor more than five hundred dollars or by imprisonment for not more than three months.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5h (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 5h - Recipients of Medical Assistance Under Chapter 118e; Subrogation; Notice; Policy Provisions; Payment by Department; Information Concerning Recipients

Section 5H. Notwithstanding any other provision of general or special law, rule or regulation, the department shall be subrogated to the right of any recipient of medical assistance provided pursuant to chapter one hundred and eighteen E to proceed against any health care insurer that is or may be liable to pay for covered services obtained by a recipient of medical assistance to the extent of any medical benefits provided by the department on behalf of the recipient or his dependents.  A recipient of medical assistance or any person legally obligated to support and having actual or legal custody of a recipient of medical assistance shall inform the department of any health insurance available to such recipient upon initial application and redetermination for eligibility for assistance and shall make known the nature and extent of any health insurance coverage to any person or institution that provides medical benefits to the recipient or his dependent.  No policy for health insurance for health care delivery administered, issued or renewed in the commonwealth shall contain any provision denying or reducing benefits to a person who is eligible for or who is receiving medical assistance under said chapter one hundred and eighteen E.  A provider of medical assistance under said chapter one hundred and eighteen E shall determine whether any recipient for whom it provides medical benefits that are or may be eligible for reimbursement pursuant to said chapter one hundred and eighteen E is a subscriber or beneficiary of a health insurance plan. The department is the payor of last resort, and accordingly a provider shall request payment for medical benefits it provides from a health insurer which is or may be liable for the medical benefits so provided, before payment is requested from the department.  Payment by the department under the medical assistance program shall constitute payment in full; subsequent to any such payment a provider may not recover from any health insurer an amount greater than the amount so paid by the department for any service for which the department is to be the payor of last resort.  Notwithstanding any provision of law, all health insurers doing business in the commonwealth shall provide information to the department to the extent sufficient to identify persons who are recipients of assistance under said chapter one hundred and eighteen E and who are also beneficiaries under any policy for health insurance in force and effect in the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5j (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 5j - Preventing Electronic Benefit Transfer Transactions for Certain Purchases Made Using Direct Cash Assistance Funds; Penalty

Section 5J. (a) The department shall maintain policies and practices as necessary to prevent direct cash assistance from being used in electronic benefit transfer transactions at: liquor stores; casinos, gambling casinos or gaming establishments licensed pursuant to chapter 23K; retail establishments which provide adult-oriented entertainment in which performers disrobe or perform in an unclothed state for entertainment as defined in section 408(a) of the Social Security Act; adult bookstores or adult paraphernalia stores as defined in section 9A of chapter 40A; firearms dealers licensed pursuant to section 122 of chapter 140 and ammunitions dealers licensed pursuant to section 122B of said chapter 140; tattoo parlors; manicure shops or aesthetic shops registered pursuant to chapter 112; jewelry stores; foreign transmittal agencies licensed pursuant to chapter 169; on a cruise ship; or at a marijuana establishment as defined in chapter 94G. Those establishments shall not accept electronic benefit transfer cards. A store owner who knowingly allows a prohibited electronic benefit transfer transaction in violation of this section or subsection (b) of section 5I shall be punished by a fine of not more than $500 for a first offense, by a fine of not less than $500 nor more than $2,500 for a second offense and by a fine of not less than $2,500 for a third or subsequent offense.  (b) A store owner who knowingly violates this section and who possesses a license to sell alcoholic beverages pursuant to 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. A store owner possessing a license pursuant to said section 12 of said chapter 138 who knowingly violates this section a second or subsequent time shall have its license suspended for not less than 30 days and shall be referred to the appropriate licensing authority for possible further disciplinary action pursuant to said section 64 of said chapter 138.  (c) A store owner who knowingly violates this section and who possesses a license to sell lottery tickets under sections 26 and 27 of chapter 10 shall be referred to the director of the state lottery commission for possible disciplinary action. A store owner possessing a license pursuant to said section 26 or 27 of said chapter 10 who knowingly violates this section a second or subsequent time shall have such license suspended for not less than 30 days and shall be referred to the director of the state lottery commission for possible further disciplinary action.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5k (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 5k - Obtaining or Receiving Department of Transitional Assistance Property Through Embezzlement, Theft or Fraud; Penalty

Section 5K. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, whoever embezzles, steals or obtains by fraud any funds, assets or property provided by the department of transitional assistance and whoever receives, conceals or retains such funds, assets or property for his own interest knowing such funds, assets or property have been embezzled, stolen or obtained by fraud shall, if such funds, assets or property are of a value of $100 or more, be punished by a fine of not more than $25,000 or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 21/2 years, or imprisonment in the state prison for not more than 5 years, or both such fine and imprisonment, or if such funds, assets or property are of a value of less than $100, by a fine of not more than $1,000 or by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 year, or both such fine and imprisonment.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 5l (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 5l - Food Stamp Benefits Trafficking; Penalty

Section 5L. (a) As used this section and section 5M, ''food stamp benefits'' shall mean benefits issued pursuant to the federal Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. §§ 2011 to 2029, inclusive, as amended, including such benefits contained on an electronic benefit transfer card.  (b) An individual commits the offense of food stamp benefits trafficking if the individual knowingly:  (1) presents for payment or redemption or transfers food stamp benefits in any form, including transfers to another, who does not, or does not intend to, use the food stamp benefits for the benefit of the household for whom the benefits were intended, as defined in the regulations of the department; or  (2) possesses, buys, sells, uses, alters, accepts or transfers food stamp benefits in any manner not authorized by the Food and Nutrition Act of 2008, 7 U.S.C. § 2011, as amended.  (c) An individual who traffics food stamp benefits, as described in subsection (b), shall:  (1) if the food stamp benefits are of a value of less than $250 or if the item used, transferred, acquired, altered or possessed has a value of less than $250, be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $1,000, or both such fine and imprisonment; or  (2) if the food stamp benefits are of a value of $250 or more or the item used, transferred, acquired, altered or possessed has a value of $250 or more, be punished by imprisonment in a jail or house of correction for not more than 2 years or by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 5 years or by a fine of not more than $5,000, or both fine and imprisonment.  (d) If a person is alleged to have committed the offense of trafficking in food stamp benefits 2 or more times within a 6–month period, those offenses may be aggregated and charged in a single count and the offenses so aggregated and charged shall constitute a single offense; provided, however, that, if the aggregate value of the food stamp benefits alleged to be trafficked is $250 or more, the person shall be subject to the penalties prescribed in clause (2) of subsection (c).  (e) Crimes under this section may be prosecuted and punished in any county where a defendant used, transferred, acquired or possessed food stamp benefits or in the county in which the state agency responsible for administering food stamp benefits is headquartered.  (f) An individual who traffics food stamp benefits, as described in subsection (b) and on 1 prior occasion has been convicted of trafficking food stamp benefits pursuant to said subsection (b) or conspiracy to traffic food stamp benefits shall be punished by imprisonment in a state prison for not more than 10 years or by a fine of not more than $25,000 or both.