reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 18 § 27 (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 27 - Direct Payment of Rent; Request of Landlord or Recipient

Section 27. The department may, upon the written request of the landlord in the case of a recipient who is in arrears in his rent payment for two consecutive months, pay directly to said landlord, after inspection by the department and written notification by the code enforcement agency of the city or town that the housing conforms to the minimum requirements established by said agency. An amount equal to the rent shall be deducted from the amount otherwise payable to said recipient.  The department may, upon the written request of any recipient, pay directly to any landlord the rent of recipients of public assistance by deducting the amount of the rent from the amount otherwise payable to the recipient provided, however, that the department receives written notification from the code enforcement agency of the city or town that the housing conforms to the minimum requirements established by said agency. The recipient shall have a right of appeal, as provided in section sixteen, to any decision made by the department regarding direct rent payment under this section. In any event, the department shall cause a complaint to be filed in accordance with the provisions of section one hundred and twenty-seven C of chapter one hundred and eleven, in cases where a recipient's housing accommodations are unsafe, unsanitary or not in conformity with local housing codes.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 27a (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 27a - Direct Deposit of Assistance Checks at Banking Institutions; Option of Recipient

Section 27A. A recipient of financial aid from the department shall be given the option of instructing said department to forward all checks of such person to a checking account, established in his name, at any banking institution within the commonwealth which he shall designate.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 31 (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 31 - Job Diversion Program; Services

Section 31. (a) The department, in collaboration with the commonwealth corporation, shall develop a job diversion program for applicants for cash assistance under transitional aid to families with dependent children to identify applicants who have the necessary job skills and experience and match those applicants with appropriate full-time employment prior to receiving benefits. The job diversion program shall be mandatory for all identified applicants over the age of 18 who are not attending a secondary school full-time or participating in an education or training activity, as defined in 106 CMR 203.400(A)(2)(i); provided, however, that the program shall not be mandatory for an applicant exempt from the work requirements under 106 CMR 203.400(A)(1)(a) to (c), inclusive; and provided further, that the program shall not be mandatory for an applicant participating in a substance abuse treatment program while in a substance abuse shelter or other in-patient program.  (b) The program shall identify able-bodied applicants who are capable of working and attempt to match them with jobs prior to receiving benefits. For those identified applicants not connected with full-time employment prior to receiving cash assistance, the department shall provide a written finding as to why the job diversion program was not successful. The findings shall be part of the applicant's case file. An applicant otherwise eligible for assistance shall not be denied temporary benefits while awaiting job diversion placements.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 32 (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 32 - Participation in Pathways to Self-Sufficiency Program Required; Exceptions

Section 32. The department shall require participation in the pathways to self-sufficiency program, established pursuant to section 3C of chapter 118, for all identified applicants over the age of 18 who are not attending a secondary school full-time, participating in an education or training activity, as defined in 106 CMR 203.400(A)(2)(i); provided, however, that the program shall not be mandatory for an applicant exempt from the work requirements pursuant to 106 CMR 203.400(A)(1)(a) to (c), inclusive; and provided further, that the program shall not be mandatory for an applicant participating in a substance abuse treatment program licensed or approved by the department of public health while the applicant is in a substance abuse shelter or other inpatient program. The department shall monitor the participation of applicants in educational or training programs they are referred to, and the applicant shall provide documentation to the department of such participation. An applicant who is otherwise eligible for TAFDC assistance shall not be denied temporary benefits while awaiting employment placement under the program; provided, however that benefits shall be suspended if employment documentation is not provided to the department in a timely manner.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 33 (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 33 - Providing of Social Security Number Required; Exceptions; Penalty for Noncompliance

Section 33. The department shall require applicants or recipients of cash assistance to provide their social security number upon application; provided, however, that this section shall not apply to recipients who are present in the United States under 1 of the eligible noncitizen statuses as described in 106 CMR 203.675(A) or 106 CMR 320.620(A) or a victim of domestic violence who has a pending petition for legal status under the federal Violence Against Women Act; provided further, that the department shall provide a 3 month placeholder social security number for applicants or recipients who are expecting mothers in the third trimester of pregnancy or a child under 4 months of age. Failure to provide a valid social security number within 3 months shall result in the suspension of benefits until a valid social security number is provided and verified by the department. The department shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this section.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 34 (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 34 - Tracking of Outcomes of Individuals Served by Training and Employment Service Programs

Section 34. The department shall require all training and employment service programs, contracted through the department, to track the outcomes of individuals served by the program for at least 1 year after transitioning into employment. The department shall determine the number of individuals each employment service program is required to track.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 35 (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 35 - Availability of Caseworker via Telephone to Recipient of Cash Assistance

Section 35. The department shall ensure when a recipient of cash assistance contacts the department via telephone during normal business hours the recipient is able to speak with a caseworker.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 36 (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 36 - Fraud Detection Program

Section 36. (a) The department, in consultation with the bureau of program integrity, established pursuant to section 16V of chapter 6A, shall develop a fraud detection program. The fraud detection program shall analyze the risk of fraud and refer any cases of suspected fraud to the program integrity division and the bureau of special investigations in the office of the state auditor.  (b) In analyzing risk of fraud and identifying cases for investigation, the program shall consider: (i) even-dollar transactions; (ii) full-benefit withdrawal; (iii) usage patterns; (iv) high electronic benefit transfer card balances; (v) repeated duplicate electronic benefit transfer card requests; (vi) purchases of prohibited items; (vii) other relevant data sources; (viii) reports to case workers of potential fraud; and (ix) instances of the use of direct cash assistance in states other than Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, Vermont and Maine.  (c) To assist the program in identifying and investigating likely cases of fraud, the department shall develop and make available reports identifying: (i) even-dollar transactions by cardholder; (ii) instances of full-benefit withdrawal; (iii) high electronic benefit transfer card balances; (iv) duplicate electronic benefit transfer card requests; (v) purchases of prohibited items and (vi) other data reports, biannually.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 37 (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 37 - Work-Related Expense Deduction

Section 37. The department shall allow applicants or recipients, who are employed, a monthly $200 work-related expense deduction from gross wages in determining eligibility and the amount of the cash assistance grant. The department shall promulgate regulations in accordance with this section.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 38 (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 38 - Non-Approval of Application for New Benefits for Failure to Comply With Registration Requirements in Secs. 178c to 178p of Chapter 6

Section 38. The department shall not approve an application for new benefits for any person required to register pursuant to sections 178C to 178P, inclusive, of chapter 6 and who has failed to register until the individual registers as required by said sections 178C to 178P, inclusive, of said chapter 6; provided, however, that prior to the denial of benefits, the department shall provide the applicant with notice of the applicant's failure to register pursuant to said sections 178C to 178P, inclusive, of said chapter 6 and a reasonable opportunity to be heard.
MA Gen L ch 18 § 39 (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 39 - Protocols for Coordination of Information With Law Enforcement Agencies, Etc. When Recipient the Subject of Felony Warrant

Section 39. The department shall develop protocols for coordinating information with federal, state and local law enforcement agencies and the administrative office of the trial court regarding recipients of publicly-funded benefits who are the subject of felony warrants. The protocols shall be designed to use the department's records to facilitate proper notice to the individual and the department shall, upon request, provide all relevant information to any such law enforcement or the court to facilitate the timely resolution of the warrant.
MA Gen L ch 18a § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18a - Department of Youth Services|Section 2 - Delinquency Prevention Programs

Section 2. The department shall provide a comprehensive and coordinated program of delinquency prevention and services to delinquent children and youth referred or committed to the department by the courts; community services for the prevention of juvenile delinquency through its own staff, through grants-in-aid to cities, towns, and other public agencies and through purchase of services from private nonprofit agencies; and services and facilities for the study, diagnosis, care, treatment, including physical and mental health and social services, education, training and rehabilitation of all children and youth referred or committed. The department shall maintain a program of research into the causes, treatment and prevention of juvenile delinquency, including new methods of service and treatment. The department shall cooperate with other state and local agencies, both public and private, serving children and youth.
MA Gen L ch 18a § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18a - Department of Youth Services|Section 3 - Deputy Commissioner

Section 3. The commissioner shall appoint, with the approval of the secretary of health and human services, a deputy commissioner who shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one and to whom the provisions of section nine A of chapter thirty shall not apply, but who shall possess the same qualifications required of the commissioner, except that he shall have had not less than five years of experience in work related to juvenile delinquency, of which at least two shall have been as an administrator. Said deputy commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner, and shall devote his full time during business hours to the duties of his office. He shall exercise such authority and discharge such duties of the commissioner as the commissioner may from time to time delegate to him and, in the absence or incapacity of the commissioner, or in the event of a vacancy in the office of commissioner, shall act as the commissioner until the absence or incapacity shall have terminated or the vacancy shall have been filled.
MA Gen L ch 18a § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18a - Department of Youth Services|Section 4 - Bureaus

Section 4. There shall be in the department the following bureaus: the bureau of clinical services; the bureau of after-care, delinquency prevention and community services; the bureau of educational services; and the bureau of institutional services. Each bureau shall be under the direction of an assistant commissioner who shall be appointed by the commissioner and who shall not be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one and to whom the provisions of section nine A of chapter thirty shall not apply.
MA Gen L ch 18a § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18a - Department of Youth Services|Section 5 - Bureau of Clinical Services; Duties; Detention Centers; Assistant Commissioner

Section 5. The bureau of clinical services shall review, upon commitment or referral, the social histories and diagnostic data concerning all persons referred or committed to the department, shall conduct such further study and evaluation as may be required for clinical classification, and shall place such persons under an appropriate form of care. Said bureau shall conduct the research and planning necessary for the continued care of each youth within the jurisdiction of the department and the development and implementation of effective individualized treatment programs for each of the delinquent children committed to the department. Said bureau shall be responsible for all case assignments, case reassignments, case dispositions, and proposals for discharge, and shall regularly review existing case assignments in the department. Said bureau shall operate the Reception-Detention Center for Girls at Boston, Judge John J. Connelly Youth Center, Boston, Westfield Detention Center, Westfield and Worcester Detention Center, Worcester, and subject to appropriation such other centers as may be necessary for the study and diagnosis of children's needs upon commitment or referral and for temporary shelter care in emergency cases including those children requiring secure custody.  The commissioner shall appoint an assistant commissioner for the bureau of clinical services who shall have a graduate degree from an accredited institution in psychology, social work, medicine, or related fields, with a specialty in the problems relating to children. Said assistant commissioner shall have had at the time of his appointment a minimum of five years professional and clinical experience working in the field of emotionally disturbed youth. Said assistant commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. He may, notwithstanding any contrary provision of law, be allowed such professional affiliations concurrent with his duties as the commissioner may approve, including the holding of a nontenure appointment at a university. Said assistant commissioner shall, with the approval of the commissioner, establish and maintain standards for all clinical and child care positions in the department and shall review the qualifications and performances of all clinical and child care personnel. The commissioner shall appoint replacement or additional clinical and child care personnel upon recommendation of said assistant commissioner together with the assistant commissioner of any other bureau requesting such personnel.
MA Gen L ch 18a § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18a - Department of Youth Services|Section 6 - Bureau of After-Care, Delinquency Prevention and Community Services; Duties; Assistant Commissioner

Section 6. The bureau of after-care, delinquency prevention and community services shall be responsible for the noninstitutional programs of the department, including but not limited to foster home care, group home care, after-care services to children in their own homes, after-care investigation services unit, parole and educational counselor programs. It shall be responsible for developing alternatives to institutional care and shall provide for work with the families of children in institutions in order to facilitate their return home and their adjustment and integration into the community. It shall further be responsible for continuing consultation with other state agencies and with local community groups and agencies for the development of preventive programs, the conduct of grants-in-aid for the initiation, demonstration and development of programs and the school adjustment counselor program.  The commissioner shall appoint an assistant commissioner for the bureau of after-care, delinquency prevention and community services who shall have an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution in the social sciences, education, or related fields. Said assistant commissioner shall have had at the time of his appointment at least five years professional experience in delinquency prevention and after-care with at least two of these years having been spent in an administrative capacity in his field. Said assistant commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner.
MA Gen L ch 18a § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 18a - Department of Youth Services|Section 7 - Bureau of Educational Services; Duties; Assistant Commissioner

Section 7. The bureau of educational services shall establish and maintain programs and curricula for the educational service functions of each institution of the department and for coordinating educational services for individual youths at each stage of departmental jurisdiction. Said bureau shall establish and maintain academic and vocational educational programs, curriculum development plants, teacher training programs and library services for each of the institutions of the department and each of the youth committed to the department. Said bureau shall seek out and implement federally aided educational programs. Said bureau, after consultation with the commissioner and the assistant commissioners of the other bureaus or their designees, shall develop and initiate in-service training programs for all employees in each of the institutions and facilities within the jurisdiction of the department. Approval of such training programs by the personnel administrator shall be required in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-eight of chapter seven.  The commissioner shall appoint an assistant commissioner for the bureau of educational services who shall have an earned graduate degree from an accredited institution in education, the social sciences, or related fields with a specialty in the problems relating to delinquency. Said assistant commissioner shall have had at the time of his appointment at least five years professional experience in public or private secondary school, teaching in the area of delinquency prevention or teaching delinquent youth, with at least two of these years having been spent in administrative-curricula planning capacity. Said assistant commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner. Said assistant commissioner shall, with the approval of the commissioner, establish and maintain standards for all teaching positions in the jurisdiction of the department and shall review the qualifications and performances of all teaching personnel in the department. Said assistant commissioner together with the assistant commissioner of each bureau requesting replacement and additional teaching personnel shall make recommendations to the commissioner relative to the replacement and addition of each and all teaching personnel for the institutions and facilities under the jurisdiction of said bureau.