reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 221a § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221a - The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation Act|Section 10 - Annual Report

Section 10. The corporation shall annually submit a complete and detailed report of its activities within ninety days after the end of the fiscal year to the clerk of the house of representatives, to the clerk of the senate, and to the governor. The annual report shall include, but not be limited to, descriptions of all programs funded, an evaluation of the performance of each program, a summary of the public monies expended, and descriptions of the individuals served by such programs.
MA Gen L ch 221a § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221a - The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation Act|Section 11 - Audit

Section 11. The books and records of the corporation shall be subject to an audit by the state auditor, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, once every 3 years and as often as the state auditor determines is necessary.
MA Gen L ch 221a § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221a - The Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation Act|Section 12 - Legal Assistance Fund; Applications; Financial Statements

Section 12. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund, as defined in section one. The corporation shall establish procedures for the application by qualified legal services programs for financial assistance from funds received or from other sources for the purposes established in this chapter. The corporation shall determine if such applications comply with the provisions of this chapter and shall determine the amounts of financial assistance to be provided to the qualified legal services programs.  Application for such financial assistance shall be made by qualified legal services programs by July first of each year. The corporation shall determine the amount of financial assistance to be distributed and the recipients of such financial assistance by September first of each year and payment of such financial assistance shall be made by October first of each year. In its discretion, the corporation may allow a second round of applications to be completed by January first, the distribution of which shall be determined by March first and payment of which shall be made by April first of each year.  Every recipient of such financial assistance shall annually submit to the corporation a financial statement including an audit of such monies approved by a certified public accountant.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 2 - Certification of Officers; Performance Review; Recertification and Removal

Section 2. A committee of child support hearing officers shall certify as child support hearing officers members of the bar of the commonwealth who shall have practiced family law for a minimum period prescribed by the committee. Those certified shall participate in a training program prescribed by the committee, shall possess such other qualifications as the committee on child support hearing officers shall fix, and shall not be justices or clerk-magistrates of the trial court. The committee shall certify hearing officers eligibility for reappointment yearly. The performance of the hearing officer shall be subject to an annual review. Public notice of the review shall be given and members of the public may submit to the committee written comments relating to their performance. The committee shall adopt appropriate rules giving the hearing officers opportunity to respond to written comments concerning recertification. The hearing officer shall serve in the various divisions of the trial court departments, as appointed by the administrative justices of those departments and shall be removable by such administrative justices during their terms.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 3 - Committee on Child Support Hearing Officers; Membership; Terms; Chairman

Section 3. The committee on child support hearing officers shall be comprised of the chief justice of the trial court, the administrative justices of the probate and family court department, the district court department, and the Boston municipal court department, or their designees. The committee shall also include the following appointees of the chief justice of the trial court: a representative of the agency designated under Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act, a representative of the department of transitional assistance if it is not the designated IV–D agency, as set forth in chapter one hundred and nineteen A, a representative of a bar association, a district attorney, a representative of an agency funded by chapter two hundred and twenty-one A, a custodial parent who is not a member of the bar and a noncustodial parent who is not a member of the bar. The terms of such appointees shall be three years; provided, however, that the first representative of a bar association, the first district attorney and the first representative of an agency funded pursuant to chapter two hundred and twenty-one A who are appointed shall serve for one year and the first custodial parent and the first noncustodial parent who are appointed shall serve for two years. Thereafter, all appointees shall serve for a term of three years, so that terms shall be staggered. The chief justice of the trial court shall be chairman of the committee on child support hearing officers.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 4 - Child Support Cases; Procedures; Power of Hearing Officers

Section 4. There are hereby established within the superior court department, the probate and family court department, district court department, and Boston municipal court department of the trial court procedures to expedite the hearing of all child support cases which shall include those portions of motions for temporary orders, motions or complaints for temporary modifications, agreements for modification, complaints under chapter two hundred and seven, two hundred and eight, two hundred and nine, or two hundred and nine C, petitions pursuant to chapter two hundred and nine D or other proceedings involving child support, or involving spousal support when there are children eligible for child support. Child support cases shall also include those portions of motions or complaints seeking to enforce a child or spousal support order described in the previous sentence including complaints for contempt, motions for suspension of income assignment, actions to enforce income assignments of other states, and such other cases as are given to the jurisdiction of child support hearing officers by other provisions of law. Child support cases shall not include instances when the superior court or the probate and family court is to enter a judgment or decree under chapter two hundred and seven or two hundred and eight. The power of the child support hearing officers shall be limited to child support cases, as defined above, and any other issue raised in a motion or complaint shall be heard by a justice of the appropriate court in a separate proceeding.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 5 - Rules

Section 5. The child support cases heard by the child support hearing officers shall be governed by rules promulgated by the Supreme Judicial Court. Such rules shall specify that the parties shall receive adequate notice and opportunity to be heard and present relevant evidence in all proceedings. Such rules shall establish all procedures for child support cases, including initiation of actions, conduct of proceedings before the hearing officers, and approval of hearing officers' orders and judgments by justices of the trial court departments.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 6 - Powers of Hearing Officers

Section 6. Without the approval of any justice of any court, a child support hearing officer shall have the power to issue subpoenas for the appearance of witnesses; to put witnesses under oath; to call parties to proceedings and to examine parties and witnesses; to require parties to file financial statements signed under oath; to issue a capias upon the failure of a party to appear on proper notice; and to accept acknowledgments of paternity and order blood tests under chapter two hundred and nine C.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 7 - Power of Hearing Officers to Make Orders

Section 7. A hearing officer shall have the power to make the following orders, notwithstanding the default of the party chargeable with support or his failure to appear personally, which shall be subject to review and approval by a justice of the court division in which he is sitting as described in this chapter: an order for support under chapter two hundred and seven, two hundred and eight, two hundred and nine, two hundred and nine C or two hundred and nine D; a judgment of contempt for failure to comply with an order to provide support, including an employer's failure to comply with an order for income assignment, for failure to appear in response to a summons, or for any other reason; a stipulation for support or modification agreed to by the parties; an order establishing the amount of arrears or the rate at which arrears are to be paid off; an order suspending a judgment enforcing the income assignment order of another state or making an income assignment order based on the judgment of another state; and all actions to enforce judgments and orders available to the courts, including, but not limited to, orders for attachment of or lien against property, orders to post bond and security, and judgments of trustee process; and such other powers as may be given to masters by statute or rule.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 7a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 7a - Review and Approval of Orders or Judgments

Section 7A. Each order or judgment of a hearing officer described in section six shall be presented to a justice of the division in which he is sitting within twenty-four hours for review and approval. The justice shall examine the record and sign each order or judgment unless he makes written findings that the hearing officer committed an error of law, that the decision is not supported by substantial evidence, or that it constitutes an abuse of discretion.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 8 - Reconsideration Hearing

Section 8. Within three business days of the hearing officer's decision, any party may seek reconsideration of that decision to a justice of the division in which the decision was rendered. In such cases, it shall be the burden of the party seeking reconsideration to show cause that the order of the hearing officer should not stand. The reconsideration hearing may consist of the presentation of evidence and argument to the justice, who may alter the decision of the hearing officer only on written findings. Approval of the hearing officer's decision under section seven shall not limit the right to reconsideration under this section.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 9 - Orders and Judgments; Effective Date; Stays

Section 9. Orders or judgments of a hearing officer shall be effective immediately unless stayed by a justice. Orders or judgments of a hearing officer shall not be stayed except by a justice of the division in which it was rendered, and in the event of such a stay the justice shall make a superseding order or judgment within seven calendar days.
MA Gen L ch 221b § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221b - Child Support Hearing Officers|Section 10 - Appeals

Section 10. After review of the hearing officer's decision in accordance with section seven or reconsideration under section eight, a party may claim an appeal to the appeals court from an order, decision, or judgment of the court. Such appeal must be claimed within thirty days of the order. The supreme judicial court shall promulgate appropriate rules governing such appeals.
MA Gen L ch 221c § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221c - Court Interpreters for the Trial Court|Section 1 - Definitions

Section 1. For the purpose of this chapter, the following words shall have the following meanings:  ''Certified interpreter'', an interpreter who has been duly trained and certified under the direction of the coordinator of interpreter services pursuant to subsection (e) of section seven.  ''Interpreter'', a person who is readily able to interpret written and spoken language simultaneously and consecutively from English to the language of the non–English speaker or from said language to English.  ''Judge'', a judge or justice, or a clerk-magistrate when acting in a magisterial capacity, of a trial court department.  ''Non–English speaker'', a person who cannot speak or understand, or has difficulty in speaking or understanding, the English language, because he uses only or primarily a spoken language other than English.  ''Qualified interpreter'', a certified interpreter who has also passed the examination and been qualified for interpreting in the federal courts by the United States district court for the district of Massachusetts.
MA Gen L ch 221c § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221c - Court Interpreters for the Trial Court|Section 2 - Right to Assistance; Availability of Qualified Interpreters; Reports

Section 2. A non–English speaker, throughout a legal proceeding, shall have a right to the assistance of a qualified interpreter who shall be appointed by the judge, unless the judge finds that no qualified interpreter of the non–English speaker's language is reasonably available, in which event the non–English speaker shall have the right to a certified interpreter, who shall be appointed by the judge. The court shall report to the coordinator of interpreter services every instance in which a qualified interpreter was found not to be reasonably available.
MA Gen L ch 221c § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221c - Court Interpreters for the Trial Court|Section 3 - Waiver of Right to Interpreter

Section 3. (a) A waiver of the right to an interpreter by a non–English speaker shall be effective only when approved by a judge after said non–English speaker has consulted with counsel and had explained to him, through an interpreter, in open court by the judge the nature and effect of such waiver. The judge may approve a waiver only upon finding that it is knowingly and voluntarily made. If such waiver is approved, the judge shall ensure that a recitation of the procedure followed pursuant to this subsection is made part of the record.  (b) The failure of a non–English speaker to request an interpreter shall not be deemed a waiver of such right, and a non–English speaker may retract any waiver of his right to an interpreter at any stage of the proceeding and indicate his desire to be assisted by an interpreter.
MA Gen L ch 221c § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221c - Court Interpreters for the Trial Court|Section 4 - Oath; Verification of Testimony; Privileged Communications

Section 4. (a) Before beginning to interpret in any proceeding an interpreter shall swear or affirm that he will make true and impartial interpretation using his best skill and judgment in accordance with the standards prescribed by law and the ethics of the interpreter profession.  (b) In any proceeding, the judge may order all of the testimony of a non–English speaker and its interpretation to be electronically recorded for use in audio or visual verification of the official transcript of the proceedings.  (c) Disclosures made out of court by communications of a non–English speaker through an interpreter to another person shall be a privileged communication and said interpreter shall not disclose such communication without permission of said non–English speaker; provided, however, that such non–English speaker had a reasonable expectation or intent that such communication would not be so disclosed.
MA Gen L ch 221c § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221c - Court Interpreters for the Trial Court|Section 5 - Removal of Interpreter

Section 5. Any of the following actions shall be good cause for a judge to remove an interpreter:  (a) knowingly and willfully making false interpretation while serving in an official capacity;  (b) knowingly and willfully disclosing confidential or privileged information obtained while serving in an official capacity;  (c) failing to follow the standards prescribed by law and the ethics of the interpreter profession; or  (d) being unable to interpret adequately, including where the interpreter self-reports such inability.
MA Gen L ch 221c § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 221c - Court Interpreters for the Trial Court|Section 6 - Compensation; Expenses

Section 6. Interpreters appointed pursuant to this chapter shall be reimbursed for actual expenses and compensated for their services. Adequate compensation for services shall be determined by a schedule of fees adopted by the committee pursuant to subsection (d) of section seven.
MA Gen L ch 222 § 1a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 222 - Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public and Commissioners|Section 1a - Appointment and Jurisdiction of Justices of the Peace and Notaries Public

Section 1A. Justices of the peace and notaries public shall be appointed and their commissions shall be issued for the commonwealth. Justices of the peace and notaries public shall have jurisdiction throughout the commonwealth when acting under the sole authority of such a commission and shall perform their duties subject to sections 8 to 26, inclusive. Unless otherwise expressly provided, justices of the peace and notaries public may administer oaths or affirmations in all cases in which an oath or affirmation is required and take acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments.
MA Gen L ch 222 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 222 - Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public and Commissioners|Section 3 - Appointment of Commissioners to Administer Oaths of Office; Returns; Fees

Section 3. The governor, with the advice and consent of the council, shall appoint commissioners to administer to public officers the oaths of office required by the constitution. Upon administering such oaths, the commissioners shall forthwith make return thereof, with the date of the same, to the state secretary. Neither the state secretary, nor any officer or employee in his department acting as such a commissioner, shall charge any fee for administering such an oath.
MA Gen L ch 222 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 222 - Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public and Commissioners|Section 4 - Appointment of Commissioners; Term

Section 4. The governor, with the advice and consent of the council, may appoint commissioners in the states, territories, districts and dependencies of the United States, and one or more commissioners in every foreign country, to hold office for three years from the date of their respective appointments.
MA Gen L ch 222 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 222 - Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public and Commissioners|Section 5 - Oath; Seal

Section 5. A person appointed commissioner in a state, territory, district or dependency of the United States shall, within three months after his appointment, take and subscribe an oath before a justice of the peace or other magistrate of the town or county where he resides, or before a clerk of a court of record within the state, territory, district or dependency where he resides, faithfully to perform the duties of his office, and shall cause an official seal to be prepared, upon which shall appear his name, the words ''Commissioner for Massachusetts'' and the name of the state, territory, district or dependency, and town or county where he resides. A person appointed commissioner in a foreign country shall, before performing any duty of his office, take and subscribe an oath before a judge or clerk of a court of record of the country where he resides or before an ambassador, minister or consul of the United States accredited to such country, faithfully to perform the duties of his office. In each case, a certificate of the commissioner's oath of office and his signature and an impression of his official seal shall be forthwith transmitted to and filed in the office of the state secretary.
MA Gen L ch 222 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part III - Courts, Judicial Officers and Proceedings in Civil Cases|Title I - Courts and Judicial Officers|Chapter 222 - Justices of the Peace, Notaries Public and Commissioners|Section 6 - Powers and Duties

Section 6. A commissioner may, in his state, territory, district, dependency or country, administer oaths and take depositions, affidavits and acknowledgments of deeds and other instruments, to be used or recorded in this commonwealth, and the proof of such deeds, if the grantor refuses to acknowledge the same, all of which shall be certified by him under his official seal.