reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 40n § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40n - Model Water and Sewer Commission|Section 21 - Termination or Dissolution of Commission

Section 21. Upon termination or dissolution of the commission, the title to all funds and other properties owned by it which remain after payment of all bonds and other obligations of the commission shall vest in the municipality. Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the commission shall fail on or before three years following the date of acceptance of this chapter to pay or refund or provide for the payment of all notes and the interest thereon issued by the commission and guaranteed by the municipality pursuant to section nine, the commission shall thereupon terminate and be dissolved, and all funds, properties, assets and liabilities owned or controlled by it on such date and all rights, benefits and obligations to which the commission shall then be subject, shall immediately vest in, be assumed by, and be reinstated in the municipality by operation of law; provided, however, that if upon any such termination or dissolution any bonds or notes of the commission shall be outstanding, such bonds or notes, unless guaranteed by the municipality under section nine, shall continue to be payable solely from the revenues and other property pledged therefor and shall not be or become a debt or obligation of the municipality except to the extent of such pledge.  No law affecting the powers, rights, duties, or obligations of the commission shall be effective unless it shall apply to water and sewer districts generally or shall have been approved under the provisions of Article 2 of the Amendments of the Constitution of the Commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 40n § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40n - Model Water and Sewer Commission|Section 22 - Inconsistent Laws or Ordinances Inoperative

Section 22. Except as otherwise provided herein, upon title to the water works system and the sewer works system becoming vested in the commission under the provisions of section five, any provisions of any special law and part of any special law and all ordinances and parts of ordinances pertaining to the water works system or the sewer works system which are inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter shall be inoperative and cease to be effective.
MA Gen L ch 40n § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40n - Model Water and Sewer Commission|Section 23 - Provisions of Act Controlling

Section 23. The provisions of this chapter shall be deemed to provide an exclusive, additional, alternative and complete method for the doing of the things authorized hereby and shall be deemed and construed to be supplemental and additional to, and not in derogation of, powers conferred upon the commission by law; provided, however, that insofar as the provisions of this chapter are inconsistent with the provisions of any general or special law, administrative order or regulation, or law of the municipality, the provisions of this chapter shall be controlling. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, no provision of the municipal charter requiring the ratification by the voters of certain bond issues shall apply to the issuance of bonds of the commission pursuant to this chapter or to the guaranty of the municipality or the bonds of the municipality authorized by section nine.
MA Gen L ch 40n § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40n - Model Water and Sewer Commission|Section 24 - Construction of Act

Section 24. This chapter, being necessary for the welfare of the municipality and its inhabitants, shall be liberally construed to effect the purposes hereof.
MA Gen L ch 40n § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40n - Model Water and Sewer Commission|Section 26 - Construction of Act; Constitutional Requirements

Section 26. This chapter shall be construed in all respects so as to meet all constitutional requirements. In carrying out the purposes and provisions of this chapter, all steps shall be taken which are necessary to meet constitutional requirements whether or not such steps are required by statute.
MA Gen L ch 40n § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40n - Model Water and Sewer Commission|Section 27 - Acceptance of Chapter

Section 27. This chapter may be accepted, in a city or town in the manner provided in section 4 of chapter 4, and in the case of an existing water and sewer commission established as an independent body politic and corporate pursuant to a special law, by its board of commissioners.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. As used in this chapter the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:  ''Business improvement district board of directors'' or ''Board of directors'', a locally designated board of property owners or their designees who are assigned responsibility for the management of a business improvement district.  ''BID'', a business improvement district formed pursuant to this chapter, which is a contiguous geographic area with clearly defined boundaries in which at least three-fourths of the area is zoned or used for commercial, industrial, retail, or mixed uses.  ''BID member'', a property owner who participates in a BID.  ''Elector'', a BID member, or a natural person designated by a member to vote by proxy for such member; provided, however, that such designation shall be in writing and filed with the city or town clerk; provided, further, that only one such proxy may be designated by an owner.  ''Fee'', a payment for services or improvements specified by the BID improvement plan.  ''Improvement plan'', the strategic plan for the BID which sets forth the supplemental services and programs, revitalization strategy, budget and fee structure, as well as the management entity for the business improvement district, and is approved by the local municipal governing body as part of the creation of the BID. An improvement plan shall, within the limitations described in section nine, be updated at least once every three years by the BID board of directors, and a copy thereof shall be mailed or delivered to each BID member. The updated improvement plan shall take effect upon the approval of a majority of the electors. Any amendment to the improvement plan under section nine shall be deemed to be an update of the improvement plan.  ''Local municipal governing body'', the city council or board of aldermen in a city or the board of selectmen or town council in a town.  ''Management entity'', an entity designated in an improvement plan to receive funds to carry out and implement the purposes of the BID, and which shall be governed by the BID board of directors. The improvement plan may designate the BID board of directors to act as the management entity, or may designate that the management entity will be selected by the board of directors. If a management entity is utilized, such entity shall be required to furnish a surety bond conditioned on the faithful performance of its duties.  ''Property'', any real property located within the BID.  ''Property owner'', the owner of record of property.  ''Standard government services'', governmental functions, programs, activities, facilities, improvements and other services which a municipality is authorized to perform or provide.  ''Supplemental service'', the provision of programs, public services, activities, amenities, or information in addition to the standard governmental services provided to the BID.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 2 - Rights and Powers

Section 2. The rights and powers of a BID approved by a municipal governing body shall include: retaining or recruiting business; administering and managing central and neighborhood business districts; promoting economic development; managing parking; designing, engineering, constructing, maintaining, or operating buildings, facilities, urban streetscapes or infrastructures to further economic development and public purposes; conducting historic preservation activities; leasing, owning, acquiring, or optioning real property; supplementing maintenance, security, or sanitation; planning and designing services; formulating a fee structure; accumulating interest; incurring costs or indebtedness; entering into contracts; suing and being sued; employing legal and accounting services; undertaking planning, feasibility and market analyses; developing common marketing and promotional activities; and supporting public art and human and environmental services as related to the enhancement of the business district or other supplemental services or programs that would further the purposes of this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 3 - Initiation of Organization; Contents of Petition

Section 3. The organization of a BID shall be initiated by a petition of the property owners within the proposed BID which shall be filed in the office of the clerk of the municipality.  Such petition shall contain:  (1) the signatures of the owners of at least fifty-one percent of the assessed valuation of all real property within the proposed BID and sixty percent of the real property owners within the proposed BID;  (2) a description of and a site map delineating the boundaries of the proposed BID;  (3) the proposed improvement plan which shall set forth the supplemental services and programs, revitalization strategy, update mechanism, and budget and fee structures;  (4) the identity and location of the management entity designated to implement and oversee the ongoing improvement plan; and  (5) the criteria for waiving the fee for any property owner within the BID who can provide evidence that the imposition of such fee would create a significant financial hardship.  Such petition may include a mechanism for reimbursing the municipality for the costs incurred in establishing the BID, and for costs incurred in collecting the district fees.  A copy of said petition shall be filed with the director of housing and community development within thirty days of receipt of such petition by the clerk of the municipality.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 5 - Board of Directors

Section 5. Each BID shall have a board of directors who shall oversee the management entity to insure the implementation of the improvement plan. The BID board of directors shall be designated by a majority vote of the electors, or their designees, who own real property participating in the BID. The local municipal governing body may establish rules and regulations governing the BID board of directors.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 6 - Property Included in Fee Formula; Exemptions

Section 6. All real property located within the proposed BID shall be considered in the fee formula for the supplemental services and programs as outlined in the improvement plan.  The municipality may exempt from fees certain properties, specifically classified as: (1) owner-occupied residential; (2) agricultural; or (3) tax exempt.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 7 - District Fee Structure

Section 7. By formal approval of a BID, the local municipal governing body shall adopt the district fee structure for the financing of items submitted in the improvement plan for the BID; provided, however, that the total fees assessed in any one year may not exceed one-half of one percent of the sum of the assessed valuation of the real property owned by participating members in the BID district.  The basis of such district fee may be determined by a formula utilizing any one or a combination of the following:  (1) different levels for varying classifications of real property;  (2) benefit zones;  (3) assessed valuation;  (4) square footage;  (5) street frontage; or  (6) any other formula which meets the objectives of the BID.  The BID, through its improvement plan, shall have the option to limit or cap the maximum annual fee derived from individual properties or the total annual revenue generated by the BID.  The formula for determining the district fee structure shall be set forth in the original petition as required by section three.  In addition to receiving funds from the district fee, the management entity shall be authorized to receive grants, donations or gifts on behalf of the BID.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 8 - Collection of Fees; Disbursement of Funds; Annual Audit

Section 8. The collector-treasurer of each municipality is hereby authorized to collect such district fees in designated BIDs and to disburse the funds to the designated management entity.  The district fees collected shall be used solely to fund items identified and approved in the improvement plan for the BID.  The collector-treasurer shall disburse revenues to the management entity within thirty days of the collection of such fees, together with the interest earned on the holding of such fees.  Following establishment of the BID, all fees billed by or on behalf of the BID and unpaid after thirty days from the date of billing shall become a lien on the property, which shall have priority over all other liens except municipal liens and mortgages of record prior to the recording of a notice of lien, if notice of the lien is duly recorded by the management entity in the appropriate registry of deeds or land court registry district.  An annual audit, certified by a certified public accountant, of the revenues generated, grants, donations, and gifts received by the BID and its expenses shall be made within one hundred and twenty days of the close of the fiscal year, and shall be placed on file with the collector. Such accounting shall be a public record.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 9 - Amendment of Improvement Plan

Section 9. At any time after the establishment of a BID pursuant to the provisions of this chapter, the improvement plan upon which the establishment was based may, upon the recommendation of the BID board of directors, with the concurrence of the owners of at least fifty-one percent of the assessed valuation of all participating real property within the BID and fifty-one percent of the participating real property owners within the BID, be amended by the local municipal governing body after compliance with the procedures set forth in this section.  Amendments to the BID improvement plan which provide for additional improvements, program services or expenditures which affect more than twenty-five percent of the total project budget, incurring indebtedness, changes to the fee structure or management entity or changes to the district boundaries shall be subject to the approval of the local municipal governing body; provided, however, that said governing body, after a public hearing, determines that it is in the public interest to adopt said amendments.  The local municipal governing body shall give notice of the public hearing for amendment by publication of a notice, in at least one newspaper having general circulation in the district, specifying the time and the place of such hearing and the amendments to be considered. Such notice shall be published once at least thirty days prior to the date of such hearing.  The local municipal governing body may, within thirty days of the public hearing and, in its sole discretion, declare the amendments approved or disapproved. If approved, such amendments shall be effective upon the date of such approval.  Upon the adoption of any amendment to the district boundaries which increases the size of the district, any owner of property to be added to the district shall be notified of the new boundaries of the district in accordance with section four.
MA Gen L ch 40o § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40o - Business Improvement Districts|Section 10 - Dissolution

Section 10. A BID may be dissolved by petition to the local municipal governing body and a subsequent decision by such governing body to authorize dissolution.  In order to be considered by the local municipal governing body, a petition to dissolve a BID shall contain the signatures of the owners of at least fifty-one percent of the assessed valuation within the district or at least fifty-one percent of the real property owners within the district.  The local municipal governing body shall hold a public hearing within thirty days of receipt of a completed petition on the issue of dissolution.  Following the public hearing, the local municipal governing body may declare the BID dissolved; provided, however, that no BID shall be dissolved until it has satisfied or paid in full all of its outstanding indebtedness, obligations, and liabilities; or until funds are on deposit and available therefor; or until a repayment schedule has been formulated and municipally approved therefor. In addition, the BID shall be prohibited from incurring any new or increased financial obligations.  Any liabilities, either current or future, incurred as a result of action to accomplish the purposes of the BID improvement plan shall not be an obligation of the municipality, but said liabilities shall be paid for entirely from revenue gained from the project or facilities authorized, or from the fees on the properties in the BID.  Upon the dissolution of a BID, any remaining revenues derived from the sale of assets acquired with fees collected shall be refunded to the property owners in the BID in which fees were charged by applying the same formula used to calculate the fee in the fiscal year in which the BID is dissolved.
MA Gen L ch 40p § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40p - The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act|Section 1 - Title

Section 1. This chapter shall be known as The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act.
MA Gen L ch 40p § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40p - The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act|Section 2 - Purpose

Section 2. The purpose of this chapter is to establish a uniform statewide policy that broadly prohibits any regulatory scheme based upon or implementing rent control, except where, following an initial six month period, compliance with such a scheme is voluntary and uncoerced on the part of property owners. Even when voluntary, rent control should be severely restricted in scope. This policy is based on the belief that the public is best served by free market rental rates for residential properties and by unrestricted home ownership. The terms of this chapter shall be liberally construed to effect this purpose.
MA Gen L ch 40p § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40p - The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act|Section 3 - Definition of Rent Control

Section 3. For purposes of this chapter, the words ''rent control'' shall mean:  (a) any regulation that in any way requires below-market rents for residential properties; and  (b) any regulation that is part of a regulatory scheme of rent control as defined in clause (a), including the regulation of occupancy, services, evictions, condominium conversion and the removal of properties from such rent control scheme; except that  (c) this definition does not include the regulation of, or agreements affecting, publicly owned housing, publicly subsidized housing, federally assisted housing, or mobile homes.
MA Gen L ch 40p § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40p - The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act|Section 4 - General Prohibition; Exception

Section 4. No city or town may enact, maintain or enforce rent control of any kind, except that any city or town that accepts this chapter may adopt rent control regulation that provides:  (a) after six months from the date of the initial adoption of rent control regulation by a particular city or town, compliance on the part of property owners as to the rent control regulation or any subsequently adopted rent control regulation shall be entirely voluntary and uncoerced, and the property of a person or entity declining to have his or its property subjected to such regulation shall be wholly unaffected by any aspect of the rent control regulation or any subsequently adopted rent control regulation;  (b) such regulation may not include the regulation of occupancy, services, evictions, condominium conversion or the removal of properties from such regulation, nor may such regulation apply to any rental unit that is owned by a person or entity owning less than ten rental units or that has a fair market rent exceeding $400; and  (c) a municipality adopting such regulation shall compensate owners of rent controlled units for each unit in the amount of the difference between the unit's fair market rent and the unit's below market, rent controlled rent, with such compensation coming from the municipality's general funds, so that the cost of any rent control shall be borne by all taxpayers of a municipality and not by the owners of regulated units only.
MA Gen L ch 40p § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40p - The Massachusetts Rent Control Prohibition Act|Section 5 - Preemption

Section 5. Because rent control is a matter of statewide concern, this chapter shall preempt, supersede or nullify any inconsistent, contrary or conflicting state or local law.
MA Gen L ch 40r § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title VII - Cities, Towns and Districts|Chapter 40r - Smart Growth Zoning and Housing Production|Section 1 - Purpose

Section 1. It is the purpose of this chapter to encourage smart growth and increased housing production in Massachusetts. Smart growth is a principle of land development that emphasizes mixing land uses, increases the availability of affordable housing by creating a range of housing opportunities in neighborhoods, takes advantage of compact design, fosters distinctive and attractive communities, preserves open space, farmland, natural beauty and critical environmental areas, strengthens existing communities, provides a variety of transportation choices, makes development decisions predictable, fair and cost effective and encourages community and stakeholder collaboration in development decisions.