reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 19 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 14 - Community Mental Health Area Boards

Section 14. In each area established under section twelve there shall be a community mental health area board, hereinafter called the area board, which shall be an agency of the commonwealth, and shall serve in the department. The area board shall consist of not fewer than 15 members, who shall be appointed by the commissioner. Two thirds of the members shall live within the area for which they are appointed, and the remaining members shall either live or work within said area. The commissioner shall seek to provide proper geographical representation in the membership of the board.  Two thirds of such members shall be persons other than employees of the commonwealth. No member shall be an employee of the department.  Upon the expiration of the term of any member of the area board, a successor shall be appointed, in like manner, for a term of three years. In the event of vacancy, the commissioner may, in like manner, appoint a member who shall serve for the remainder of the unexpired term. Members of the board shall serve without compensation, and shall be sworn to the faithful performance of their duties. The area board shall suggest for consideration by the commissioner one or more names for each such expiring term or vacancy. No member shall be appointed for more than two consecutive three-year terms.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 15 - Duties and Powers of Area Boards

Section 15. The area board shall have the following duties and powers:  (a) to act as the representative of the citizens of the area;  (b) to advise regarding local needs and resources in the development of comprehensive mental health services;  (c) to advise in the recruitment and selection of the area director to be appointed by the commissioner, provided that, where the area director will also be an executive head of a facility which is integrated with a university medical center or medical school or with a hospital, the university, medical school, or hospital authorities shall advise in the recruitment and selection of such director; provided, that the commissioner may designate a person to act as area director in any case in which such office shall be vacant;  (d) to review and make recommendations concerning the annual budget for the comprehensive mental health services of the area;  (e) to review programs and services which are a part of the program of the area but which are not conducted within commonwealth-operated facilities;  (f) to consult with the commissioner in personnel recruitment and appointment policies, in the establishment of program priorities for the area, in admission policies for all facilities and services, and in policies regarding relationships with other agencies and organizations;  (g) to communicate with the mental health advisory council, established under section eleven, to discuss any matters concerning the area program;  (h) to receive and administer any gift or bequest of personal property or funds in trust or any grant or devise of lands made to its use in trust in the interest of the area program of mental health services, or for any special purpose as indicated in the gift or grant in trust, and may invest the proceeds thereof in notes, bonds or property secured by sufficient mortgages;  (i) to hold regular meetings in each year and to convene special meetings on the call of the president, or ten members of the board, or the area director, or the commissioner. The area director shall be notified of, and may participate in, all meetings, but shall not vote;  (j) to elect from their members annually a president and such other officers as they deem appropriate. The area board shall adopt rules for its proper organization and for procedures at meetings. Such rules and any subsequent amendments thereto shall be submitted to the commissioner for approval.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 16a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 16a - Program to Provide Remote Mental Health Consultations

Section 16A. (a) Subject to appropriation, the department shall operate a statewide program to provide remote mental health consultations available for a at least 5 days a week to pediatricians, family physicians, nurse practitioners and primary care practices for persons under the age of 19 who exhibit a possible mental health or substance use disorder and to health care providers of women who are presenting with signs of postpartum depression.  (b) Expenditures on the program by the department that are related to services provided on behalf of commercially-insured clients shall be assessed by the commissioner on surcharge payors as defined in section 64 of chapter 118E.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 17 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 17 - Area Advisory Committees

Section 17. The area board may appoint such advisory committees as it may from time to time deem necessary. The members of such committees shall serve for such terms as the area board may determine.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 18 - Rules and Regulations

Section 18. The department may from time to time adopt such rules and regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this chapter, and may amend or repeal the same.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 20 - Mental Health Facility Employees; Civil Service Exemption

Section 20. Stationary engineers, steam firemen, school teachers and head farmers employed in mental health facilities of the department and, except as otherwise provided by the civil service law and rules, the classified labor service of the department, shall be exempt from chapter thirty-one; provided, however, that whenever, as a condition of receiving federal grants for programs and activities to which the federal standards for a merit system of personnel administration relate, federal requirements make necessary the application of the civil service law and rules to any such position, or to the classified labor service or any portion thereof, said positions or service shall be subject to chapter thirty-one; provided, further, such federal requirements are uniform in all states.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 21 - Interagency Agreements With Developmental Services Department

Section 21. Subject to approval by the secretary of health and human services, the commissioner may enter into interagency agreements with the commissioner of developmental services for the coordinated regulation of or for the coordinated or joint management of certain services that are required or that must be provided by both the department of developmental services and the department of mental health. Such agreements may be entered where it is determined by the commissioners of said departments that the services require coordinated regulation to ensure development of substantially similar standards consistent with certain shared needs of mentally ill and persons with an intellectual disability or that the services will be more efficiently and effectively provided by a single, unified management system than by two separate management systems. Such services may include, without limitation, transportation, laundry, data processing, certain services to mixed populations of mentally ill and mentally retarded individuals with common needs for care and treatment or to individuals who are diagnosed as both persons with an intellectual disability and mentally ill, research activities and program monitoring. Coordinated regulation of such services may include, without limitation, such issues as restraint, charges for care, investigations and case management. Pursuant to such agreements the department of mental health may assume responsibility for the provision of such services to the department of developmental services. Such agreements may delegate responsibility to the department of developmental services to provide such services for the department of mental health. Such agreements may provide for the expenditure of appropriated funds consistent with such joint management service systems and may further provide for assignment of certain staff to such joint management service systems. Such agreements shall not, however, conflict with the department of developmental services' primary responsibility for persons with an intellectual disability regardless of whether such persons are also mentally ill.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 22 - Consultation of Commissioner for Behavioral Health Services for Children

Section 22. The commissioner of mental health shall be consulted on the design and implementation of the commonwealth's behavioral health services for children, under guidelines established by the secretary of health and human services under section 16S of chapter 6A.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 23 - Children's Behavioral Research Center; Powers and Duties; Annual Report

Section 23. There shall be, within the department of mental health, a children's behavioral health research center, the primary mission of which shall be to ensure that the workforce of clinicians and direct care staff providing children's behavioral health services are highly skilled and well trained, the services provided to children in the commonwealth are cost-effective and evidence-based, and that the commonwealth continues to develop and evaluate new models of service delivery. Subject to appropriation, the center shall conduct activities as the commissioner may direct in furtherance of its primary mission, which may include: (i) collecting quarterly data from state agencies, the juvenile court, the commissioner of probation, service providers and insurance providers relative to children's behavioral health services; (ii) researching the best practices for the identification and treatment of children's behavioral health needs; (iii) evaluating the demand for and the availability, cost and quality of, children's behavioral health services provided by the commonwealth; (iv) publishing annual progress reports, including the estimated costs and benefits of implementing new programs or practices, the status of racial and ethnic disparities, and the capacity of the behavioral health system to meet clinically appropriate inpatient, residential and community-based service demands; and (v) providing information on a regular basis to the children's behavioral health advisory council, established by section 16Q of chapter 6A.  The center shall publish an annual report including: (i) narrative and statistical information about service demand, delivery and cost, and identified service gaps during the prior year; (ii) the effectiveness of the services delivered during the prior year; and (iii) review of research analyzed or conducted during the prior year. The center shall submit the annual report by February 1st to the governor, the children's behavioral health advisory council, the child advocate and the general court, by filing it with the clerks of the senate and the house of representatives, the joint committee on mental health and substance abuse, the joint committee on children, families and persons with disabilities, the joint committee on health care financing and the senate and the house committees on ways and means.
MA Gen L ch 19 § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19 - Department of Mental Health|Section 24 - Notification of Parent or Guardian of Child Receiving Inpatient Psychiatric Services

Section 24. If the department is notified that a child who is eligible for department services is receiving inpatient psychiatric services, the department shall contact the child's parents or guardians and a member of the child's treatment team within 3 business days of being so notified, shall maintain weekly contact with them until the child is discharged, and shall, with the consent of the child's parent or guardian, immediately begin discharge planning, with the priority of returning the child to his home or to a community placement. Not later than 5 business days after being notified that continued hospitalization is no longer clinically appropriate, the department shall determine the appropriate type of placement for the child and, with the consent of the child's parent or guardian, shall immediately initiate the placement referrals. The department shall document its activities in assisting with discharge placement, including identification of available resources for home-based, community or alternative residential placements, and the barriers, if any, to discharge to the most clinically-appropriate setting. If the initial placement shall not be deemed to be the most clinically appropriate, the department shall continue to seek an appropriate placement. Not longer than 30 days after being notified that continued hospitalization is no longer clinically appropriate, the department shall refer the child to the interagency team established pursuant to section 16R of chapter 6A. The department shall submit a monthly report to the secretary of health and human services detailing the activities undertaken pursuant to this section, including the length of time required to place each such child in a clinically-appropriate, post-discharge setting.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 1 - Establishment; Secretary, Powers and Duties

Section 1. There shall be a department of elder affairs, in this chapter called the department, which shall be under the supervision and control of a secretary of elder affairs, hereinafter called the secretary. The secretary shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the governor. In the event of a vacancy in the office of the secretary, or in the secretary's absence or disability, as determined by the governor, the governor shall designate an assistant secretary of elder affairs to serve as secretary until the vacancy is filled, or until the absence or disability ceases, as determined by the governor, and the assistant secretary so designated shall have all the powers and duties of the secretary. The secretary shall devote his full time to the duties of his office.  The secretary shall be the executive and administrative head of the department and shall be responsible for administering and enforcing the provisions of law relative to the department and each administrative unit thereof.  The secretary shall administer chapter 118E relative to medical care and assistance to eligible persons age 65 and older except for acute care services as defined by the secretary of health and human services. The secretary shall be responsible for administering and coordinating a comprehensive system of long-term care benefits and services for elderly persons, including institutional, home-based and community-based care and services.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 2 - Offices of Administration and of Program Planning and Management; Assistant Secretaries

Section 2. There shall be in the department an office of administration and an office of program planning and management, each under the supervision of an assistant secretary of elder affairs, in this chapter called an assistant secretary, subject to the direction, control, and supervision of the secretary. Each assistant secretary shall be a person of skill and experience including five years of administrative experience in the field of his appointment, shall be appointed by the secretary, and shall serve at his pleasure. The position of assistant secretary shall not be subject to chapter thirty-one and the provisions of section nine A of chapter thirty shall not apply to any person holding such appointment. Each assistant secretary shall devote his full time to the duties of his office.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 3 - Divisions and Administrative Units; Directors; Description of Organization, Filing

Section 3. The secretary may from time to time, subject to appropriation, establish within the department such divisions and such administrative units within such divisions as may be necessary for the efficient and economical administration of the department, and, when necessary for such purpose, he may abolish any such division, or he may merge any two or more of them, and may abolish or merge any such other administrative units within divisions as he may deem advisable. The secretary shall prepare and keep current a statement of the organization of the department, of the assignment of functions to its various administrative units, offices, and employees, and of the places at which and the methods whereby the public may receive information or make requests. Such statement shall be known as the department's description of organization. A current copy of the description of organization shall be kept on file in the office of the state secretary and in the office of the secretary of administration.  Each division shall be under the supervision of a director who shall have skill and experience in the field of his appointment.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 4a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 4a - Sliding Fee Scale for Home Care Services; Financial Eligibility Limits

Section 4A. The department shall establish a sliding fee scale to provide home care services for certain persons whose income exceeds the limits established under Title XX of the Social Security Act. On July first of each year, the department shall increase the financial eligibility limits for home services, including the sliding fee scale, by a percentage equal to the percentage increase in federal social security benefits for that fiscal year. The department shall forward to the house and senate committees on ways and means on or before March first of each year, a full report on the status of the home care program audit.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 5 - Citizen Advisory Boards

Section 5. The secretary may appoint from time to time, such citizen advisory boards as he deems appropriate and necessary. Said citizen advisory boards shall advise and assist the secretary on matters relating to the special needs of elderly persons and assist the secretary in making appraisals of needs of the elderly and the evaluations of programs required by this act. The secretary in making appointments to said boards shall insure that members so appointed shall represent all regions of the commonwealth, the segments of the population served by the department and statewide senior citizens groups; provided, however, that at least fifty per cent of the members of any board so appointed shall be fifty-five years of age or over.  Members of any citizen advisory boards established by this section shall receive no compensation for their services, but may be reimbursed for their expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 6 - Regulations

Section 6. The secretary shall make, and from time to time revise, regulations for the conduct of the business of the department and such other regulations as may be required by law.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 7 - Acceptance of Gifts or Grants

Section 7. The secretary may accept on behalf of the commonwealth any gifts or grants of money or property, whether real or personal, from any source, whether public or private, for the purpose of assisting the secretary in the discharge of his duties.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 8 - Employees; Appointments and Removal; Age Restriction

Section 8. The secretary, subject to appropriation, shall appoint and may remove all employees in the department. Unless otherwise provided by law, all such appointments and removals shall be in accordance with chapter thirty-one.  In making such appointments, the secretary shall make every reasonable effort to assure that at least twenty-five per cent of all employees of the department are fifty-five years of age or older.
MA Gen L ch 19a § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 19a - Department of Elder Affairs|Section 9 - Experts and Technical Consultants; Appointment

Section 9. Subject to appropriation, the secretary may, without regard to chapter thirty-one, but subject to the approval of the governor, appoint such experts and technical consultants as he shall determine to be necessary to perform the functions of said office; provided that the provisions of section nine A of chapter thirty shall not apply to any person holding any such appointment.