reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 30a § 11c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30a - State Administrative Procedure|Section 11c - Hearings in Municipalities

Section 11C. Any agency which is required by law to conduct hearings, shall, if the subject matter of such hearing solely concerns a single municipality, hold such hearing or a substantial portion thereof in such municipality upon receipt of a written request from the mayor of a city, the board of selectmen of a town, or the council of a municipality having a manager-council form of government received by the agency not less than fourteen days before the scheduled date of the hearing. If the subject matter of such hearing solely concerns a particular geographic area of the commonwealth, the agency shall hold such hearing or a substantial portion thereof within such geographic area upon receipt of written requests from a majority of the mayors, boards of selectmen and councils of the cities and towns which constitute such geographic area received by the agency not less than fourteen days before the scheduled date of the hearing. The municipality in which the hearing is held shall provide a hearing room and other necessary facilities for such hearing. If no suitable place for holding such hearing is available in the municipality, the municipality may arrange for the holding of the hearing in another city or town that is reasonably convenient. This section shall not apply to hearings held as part of an adjudicatory proceeding, but this sentence shall not be construed to restrict an agency from holding an adjudicatory hearing in any appropriate location.
MA Gen L ch 30a § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30a - State Administrative Procedure|Section 12 - Adjudicatory Proceedings; Subpoenas

Section 12. In conducting adjudicatory proceedings, agencies shall issue, vacate, modify and enforce subpoenas in accordance with the following provisions:—  (1) Agencies shall have the power to issue subpoenas requiring the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of any evidence, including books, records, correspondence or documents, relating to any matter in question in the proceeding. Agencies may administer oaths and affirmations, examine witnesses, and receive evidence. The power to issue subpoenas may be exercised by any member of the agency or by any person or persons designated by the agency for such purpose.  (2) The agency may prescribe the form of subpoena, but it shall adhere, in so far as practicable, to the form used in civil cases before the courts. Witnesses shall be summoned in the same manner as witnesses in civil cases before the courts, unless another manner is provided by any law. Witnesses summoned shall be paid the same fees for attendance and travel as in civil cases before the courts, unless otherwise provided by any law.  (3) Any party to an adjudicatory proceeding shall be entitled as of right to the issue of subpoenas in the name of the agency conducting the proceeding. The party may have such subpoenas issued by a notary public or justice of the peace, or he may make written application to the agency, which shall forthwith issue the subpoenas requested. However issued, the subpoena shall show on its face the name and address of the party at whose request the subpoena was issued. Unless otherwise provided by any law, the agency need not pay fees for attendance and travel to witnesses summoned by a party.  (4) Any witness summoned may petition the agency to vacate or modify a subpoena issued in its name. The agency shall give prompt notice to the party, if any, who requested issuance of the subpoena. After such investigation as the agency considers appropriate it may grant the petition in whole or part upon a finding that the testimony, or the evidence whose production is required, does not relate with reasonable directness to any matter in question, or that a subpoena for the attendance of a witness or the production of evidence is unreasonable or oppressive, or has not been issued a reasonable period in advance of the time when the evidence is requested.  (5) Upon the failure of any person to comply with a subpoena issued in the name of the agency and not revoked or modified by the agency as provided in this section, any justice of the superior court, upon application by the agency or by the party who requested that the subpoena be issued, may in his discretion issue an order requiring the attendance of such person before the agency and the giving of testimony or production of evidence. Any person failing to obey the court's order may be punished by the court for contempt.
MA Gen L ch 30a § 13a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30a - State Administrative Procedure|Section 13a - Issuance and Renewal of Licenses; Social Security Number of Applicant; Information Provided to Iv&ndash;d Agency

Section 13A. Agencies and political subdivisions of the commonwealth, that issue a license under section 13 shall require an applicant for issuance or renewal of such license to provide a social security number as a condition of issuing or renewing such license and shall record such social security number in the applicant's record; provided, however, that the applicant may, on the face of the license, use a number other than his social security number as permitted under any other provision of law of the commonwealth; provided further, that the agency issuing the license shall provide information in its records, including the social security number of applicants, to the IV–D agency as set forth in chapter 119A, using the method and format required by said IV–D agency.
MA Gen L ch 30a § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30a - State Administrative Procedure|Section 15 - Supreme Judicial Court and Appeals Court; Concurrent Jurisdiction

Section 15. The supreme judicial court and the appeals court shall have concurrent jurisdiction to review any proceedings had, determinations made, and orders or judgments entered in the superior court pursuant to section fourteen. The supreme judicial court or the appeals court, subject to the provisions of section thirteen of chapter two hundred and eleven A, may by rule vary the procedure authorized or required for such review upon a finding that the review by the court will thereby be made more simple, speedy and effective.
MA Gen L ch 30a § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30a - State Administrative Procedure|Section 16 - Supreme Judicial Court; Powers

Section 16. The supreme judicial court shall have the power to make rules of pleading, practice and procedure supplementary to and not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter relating to judicial review of administrative action, and to amend such rules, for the purpose of securing a simple, speedy and effective judicial review of administrative action.
MA Gen L ch 30a § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30a - State Administrative Procedure|Section 17 - Partial Invalidity of Chapter; Effect

Section 17. If any provision of this chapter or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the chapter which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application.
MA Gen L ch 30a § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30a - State Administrative Procedure|Section 25 - Authority of Attorney General to Promulgate Rules and Regulations, Letter Rulings and Advisory Opinions

Section 25. (a) The attorney general shall have the authority to promulgate rules and regulations to carry out enforcement of the open meeting law.  (b) The attorney general shall have the authority to interpret the open meeting law and to issue written letter rulings or advisory opinions according to rules established under this section.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 3 - Procurement Contracts; Files

Section 3. A procurement officer who awards a contract in the amount of $10,000 or more shall maintain a file on each such contract and shall include in such file a copy of all written documents required by this chapter. Written documents required by this chapter shall be retained by the governmental body for at least six years from the date of final payment under the contract. Except as provided by paragraph (d) of section six, the records shall be open to public inspection.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 4 - Submission of Quotations

Section 4. (a) Except as permitted pursuant to this section and section 7, for the procurement of a supply or service in the amount of $10,000 or greater, but not more than $50,000, a procurement officer shall seek written quotations from no fewer than 3 persons customarily providing the supply or service. The procurement officer shall record: (1) the names and addresses of all person from whom quotations were sought, (2) the purchase description used for the procurement, (3) the names of the persons submitting quotations and (4) the date and amount of each quotation. Such information shall be retained in the file required pursuant to section 3. A governmental body may require that any procurement in an amount of not more than $50,000 be subject to section 5.  (b) The procurement officer shall award the contract to the responsible person offering the needed quality of supply or service at the lowest quotation.  (c) A procurement in the amount of less than $10,000 shall be obtained through the exercise of sound business practices.  (d) A procurement officer, who follows sound business practices, may award contracts which include individual purchases of less than $35,000 to Massachusetts farm operations for the procurement of products of agriculture as defined in section 1A of chapter 128 including, but not limited to, fruits, vegetables, eggs, dairy products, meats, crops, horticultural products and products processed into value added products, that are grown or produced using products grown in the commonwealth as well as fish, seafood and other aquatic products, without seeking quotations as required under subsection (a).
MA Gen L ch 30b § 6a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 6a - Utilization of Reverse Auctions for the Acquisition of Supplies and Services

Section 6A. (a) A chief procurement officer may enter into procurement contracts for more than $50,000, utilizing reverse auctions for the acquisition of supplies and services. The reverse auction process shall include a specification of an opening date and time when real-time electronic bids shall be accepted and shall provide that the procedure remain open until the designated closing date and time.  (b) All bids on reverse auctions shall be posted electronically on the internet and updated on a real-time basis and shall allow for registered bidders to lower the price of their bid below the lowest bid on the internet.  (c) The chief procurement officer shall require vendors to register before the reverse auction opening date and time and, as part of the registration, agree to any terms and conditions and other requirements of the solicitation.  (d) Any mechanism including, but not limited to, software, developed by the operational services division to conduct reverse auctions by the commonwealth, shall provide for the utilization of that mechanism by municipalities.  (e) The operational services division may assess a municipality utilizing the reverse auction mechanism a reasonable fee, calculated to compensate for any increased cost attributable to such utilization, which shall be credited to the General Fund.  (f) Reverse auctions shall not be subject to clause (1) of subsection (b) or subsection (d) of section 5 but shall be subject to all other provisions of said section 5.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 7 - Sole Source Procurements

Section 7. (a) A procurement officer may award a contract in an amount of not more than $50,000 or any contract for the procurement of library books, school textbooks, educational programs, educational courses, educational curricula in any media including educational software, newspapers, serials, periodicals, audiovisual materials or software maintenance without competition when, after reasonable investigation, the procurement officer determines in writing that only one practicable source for the required supply or service exists. The procurement officer shall procure a proprietary item by competition if more than one potential bidder or offeror for that item exists.  (b) The procurement officer shall record all sole source procurements, specifying each contractor's name, the amount and type of each contract, a listing of supplies or services procured under each contract, and the basis of the determination that the contractor was the only practicable source for the required supply or service.  (c) A procurement officer may procure without competition water, gas, electricity, sewer or telephone services from a regulated industry company as defined in section three of chapter twenty-five if the procurement officer certifies in writing that only one practicable source exists.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 8 - Emergency Procurements

Section 8. Whenever the time required to comply with a requirement of this chapter would endanger the health or safety of the people or their property a procurement officer may make an emergency procurement without following that requirement. An emergency procurement shall be limited to only supplies or services necessary to meet the emergency and shall conform to the requirements of this chapter to the extent practicable under the circumstances. The procurement officer shall make a record of each emergency as soon after the procurement as practicable, specifying each contractor's name, the amount and the type of each contract, a listing of the supply or service provided under each contract, and the basis for determining the need for an emergency procurement.  The procurement officer shall submit a copy of this record at the earliest possible time to the state secretary for placement in any publication established by the state secretary for the advertisement of procurements.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 9 - Cancellation of Invitation for Bids; Rejection of Bids or Proposals

Section 9. The procurement officer may cancel an invitation for bids, a request for proposals, or other solicitation, or may reject in whole or in part any and all bids or proposals when the procurement officer determines that cancellation or rejection serves the best interests of the governmental body. The procurement officer shall state in writing the reason for a cancellation or rejection.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 10 - Certification of Good Faith

Section 10. A person submitting a bid or a proposal for the procurement or disposal of supplies or services to any governmental body shall certify in writing, on the bid or proposal, as follows:  The undersigned certifies under penalties of perjury that this bid or proposal has been made and submitted in good faith and without collusion or fraud with any other person. As used in this certification, the word ''person'' shall mean any natural person, business, partnership, corporation, union, committee, club, or other organization, entity, or group of individuals.  _____________________________________________(Signature of individual submitting bide or proposal)  _____________________________________________(Name of business)
MA Gen L ch 30b § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 11 - Splitting of Procurements

Section 11. No person shall cause or conspire to cause the splitting or division of any procurement, specification, invitation for bids, request for proposals, proposal, solicitation, or quotation for the purpose of evading a requirement of this chapter.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 13 - Increase of Services or Supplies Specified in Contract

Section 13. The governmental body may increase the quantity of supplies or services or both specified in a contract provided:  (1) the unit prices remain the same or less;  (2) the procurement officer has specified in writing that an increase is necessary to fulfill the actual needs of the governmental body and is more economical and practical than awarding another contract;  (3) the parties agree to the increase in writing; and  (4) the increase in the total contract price does not exceed 25 per cent but a contract for the purchase of gasoline, special fuel, fuel oil, road salt or other ice and snow control supplies shall not be subject to this limit; and  (5) the governmental body, with the agreement of the contractor, may reduce the unit price for supplies or services or both specified in a contract to be paid by the governmental body at any time during the term of the contract or when an option to renew, extend or purchase is exercised.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 13a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 13a - Recycling or Composting Contracts; Modifications and Amendments

Section 13A. With respect to contracts for the recycling or composting of solid waste or the treatment, composting or disposal of sewage, septage or sludge authorized under the provisions of subsection (e) of section one, the governmental body may negotiate modifications and amendments to contracts for recycling services involving the addition of materials to be collected or processed, the deletion of materials to be collected or processed, the change in specifications with respect to materials to be collected or processed, and any price adjustments related to such modifications and amendments, where the contract is for a term of two years, or more, and where such changes are based upon changes in market conditions since the commencement of the contract, provided:  (1) after reasonable investigation of costs and benefits, the chief procurement officer has determined in writing that such modification is in the best interest of the governmental body; and  (2) where the modification involves the addition of materials and an increase in price to the governmental body, the chief procurement officer has determined in writing that the amendment is more advantageous than alternate means of procuring such services.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 14 - Specification Requirements; Proprietary Supply or Service and Sole Source Procurement

Section 14. Unless no other manner of description suffices, and the procurement officer so determines in writing, setting forth the basis for the determination, all specifications shall be written in a manner which describes the requirements to be met without having the effect of exclusively requiring a proprietary supply or service, or a procurement from a sole source.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 15 - Tangible Supply; Disposition

Section 15. (a) A governmental body shall dispose of a tangible supply, no longer useful to the governmental body but having resale or salvage value, in accordance with this section. This section does not apply to the disposal of real property.  (b) The governmental body shall offer such supply through competitive sealed bids, public auction, or established markets.  (c) Notice of sale by bid or auction shall conform with the procedures set forth in paragraph (c) of section five. The notice shall indicate the supply offered for sale, designate the location and method for inspection of such supply, state the terms and conditions of sale including the place, date and time for the bid opening or auction, and state that the governmental body retains the right to reject any and all bids.  (d) If the governmental body rejects the bid of the highest responsive bidder, the governmental body may:  (1) negotiate a sale of such supply so long as the negotiated sale price is higher than the bid price; or  (2) resolicit bids.  (e) A procurement officer may trade-in a supply listed for trade-in in the invitation for bids or request for proposals.  (f) For a supply with an estimated net value of less than $10,000, the procurement officer shall dispose of such supply using written procedures approved by the governmental body.  (g) Notwithstanding any other requirement of this section, a governmental body may by majority vote, unless otherwise prohibited by law, dispose of a tangible supply no longer useful to the governmental body but having resale or salvage value, at less than the fair market value to a charitable organization which has received a tax exemption from the United States by reason of its charitable nature.
MA Gen L ch 30b § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title III - Laws Relating to State Officers|Chapter 30b - Uniform Procurement Act|Section 17 - Writing Requirement; Invalidation of Contracts; Forfeiture; Civil Actions

Section 17. (a) All contracts in the amount of $10,000 or more shall be in writing, and the governmental body shall make no payment for a supply or service rendered prior to the execution of such contract.  (b) Subject to the provisions of section three A of chapter forty, a contract made in violation of this chapter shall not be valid, and the governmental body shall make no payment under such contract. Minor informalities shall not require invalidation of a contract.  (c) A person who causes or conspires with another to cause a contract to be solicited or awarded in violation of a provision of this chapter shall forfeit and pay to the appropriate governmental body a sum of not more than two thousand dollars for each violation. In addition, the person shall pay double the amount of damages sustained by the governmental body by reason of the violation, together with the costs of any action. If more than one person participates in the violation, the damages and costs may be apportioned among them.  (d) The inspector general shall have authority to institute a civil action to enforce paragraph (c) if authorized by the attorney general.