reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 15a § 19a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 19a - Student Loan Repayment Program; Guidelines; Expenses for Administration

Section 19A. There shall be a student loan repayment program known as the attracting excellence to teaching program, for the purpose of encouraging outstanding students to teach in the public schools of the commonwealth by providing financial assistance for the repayment of qualified education loans, as defined below. The program shall be administered by the board of education in accordance with guidelines promulgated by the board of higher education. The program shall be subject to appropriation.  The term ''qualified education loan'' shall mean any indebtedness including interest on such indebtedness incurred to pay tuition or other direct expenses incurred in connection with the pursuit of an undergraduate or graduate degree by an applicant, but shall not include loans made by any person related to the applicant.  The council shall promulgate guidelines governing the attracting excellence to teaching program. These guidelines shall include the following provisions:  (1) eligibility for the program shall be limited to persons who have graduated in the top 15 per cent of their undergraduate classes or who have graduated with honors designations, as certified by the institution attended by any such applicant;  (2) eligibility shall be limited to persons entering the teaching profession after July first, nineteen hundred and ninety-four;  (3) the commonwealth shall repay a participating teacher's student loan at a rate not to exceed one hundred and fifty dollars per month for a period not to exceed forty-eight months;  (4) repayment shall be made to the participating teacher annually upon the presentation by the participating teacher of satisfactory evidence of payments under the loan;  (5) payments by the commonwealth shall cover only loan payments made by the participating teacher in the months during which the participating teacher teaches in public school in the commonwealth;  (6) the program may or may not be limited to teachers who teach in school districts designated by the board of education;  (7) the program shall set forth an affirmative action policy and specific annual affirmative action goals. The council shall annually publish a report detailing its efforts to publicize the loan repayment program in order to advance the goals of this affirmative action policy and its success in meeting those goals.  Expenses for administration of the program may be retained in an interest bearing trust fund to be established by the board of education and expended for the costs of administering the program without further appropriation, and any funds remaining in the trust fund at the termination of the program shall be returned to the General Fund.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 19b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 19b - Teacher Signing Bonus Program; Regulations

Section 19B. There shall be an incoming teacher signing bonus program to be administered by the department of education for the purpose of encouraging the best and brightest candidates to teach in the public schools. The goal of such program shall be to encourage high achieving candidates to enter the profession who would otherwise not consider a career in teaching. Funding for such program shall be subject to the provisions of section 35S of chapter 10.  The board of education shall promulgate regulations, where necessary, for the effective implementation of such program. Such regulations shall include the following provisions:  (1) On an annual basis, the department of education shall select the best and brightest teaching prospects based on objective measures such as test scores, grade point average or class rank and such other criteria as the department may determine. The department shall establish a system for receiving a limited number of recommendations for outstanding candidates for such bonuses from institutions of higher education across the nation. In selecting bonus recipients, the department shall consider such recommendations.  (2) In a given year, the department may target awards to attract teachers for those subject matter areas most needed in the commonwealth; provided, however, that such subject matter areas shall be included in the core subjects as described in section 1D of chapter 69.  (3) In a given year, the department shall award bonuses only to those deserving candidates rather than providing a set number of bonuses.  (4) Recipients shall receive a $20,000 signing bonus over at least three years with at least $8,000 distributed in the first year of the bonus.  (5) Such recipients shall be eligible for each year's bonus payment only if they are certified to teach in the commonwealth and are employed as a teacher by a public school in the commonwealth.  (6) The department shall select and notify bonus recipients by April 1 of each year. Eligible recipients shall receive their annual bonus payments by the subsequent October 1 of each year.  (7) The name of an individual recipient of such bonus shall remain confidential unless recipient waives such confidentiality in writing.  (8) The department shall aggressively market the existence of the program to encourage the best and brightest candidates in the nation to come to the commonwealth to teach. Such marketing shall focus on candidates who would otherwise not consider a career in teaching.  (9) The program shall set forth an outreach plan to attract underrepresented populations to the teaching profession.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 19c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 19c - Master Teacher Corps Program; Regulations

Section 19C. There shall be Massachusetts master teacher corps program for the purpose of building a group of recognized teachers of high achievement in the profession who shall serve to mentor incoming apprentice teachers and further the goals of the education reform act, so-called. The department of education shall administer this program. Funding for said program shall be subject to the provisions of section 35S of chapter 10.  The board of education shall promulgate regulations, where necessary, for the effective implementation of such program. Such regulations shall include the following provisions:  (1) The department may select master teachers who achieve master teacher status through certification from the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, pass a challenging content test, and agree to mentor apprentice teachers. The department may develop and include alternatives to the NBPTS program provided such alternatives maintain equivalent or higher standards of excellence in teaching.  (2) The department may provide master teachers with partial or full reimbursement for the assessment costs of said NBPTS certification. The department shall provide master teachers with ongoing salary bonuses for such master teachers. Such ongoing salary bonuses shall be limited to $5,000 per year. Within said $5,000 limit, the department may authorize a nominal payment to the school district of such master teachers to facilitate time for the master teacher to engage in mentoring activity.  (3) Teachers with master teacher status shall have full parity in certification and compensation with teachers who earn a master's degrees from approved higher education institutions, notwithstanding the provisions of section 38G of chapter 71, or chapter 150E.  (4) The program shall set forth an outreach plan to attract underrepresented populations to the teaching profession.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 19d (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 19d - Scholarship Program Known as Tomorrow's Teachers Program; Guidelines

Section 19D. There shall be a scholarship program to be administered by the board of higher education, which shall be known as the tomorrow's teachers program, for the purpose of encouraging outstanding high school students to teach in the public schools by providing qualified high school students with scholarships for tuition and fees for a four-year bachelor's degree program at a public institution of higher education in the commonwealth. The program shall be subject to appropriation.  The board of higher education shall promulgate guidelines governing the tomorrow's teachers program. The guidelines shall include the following provisions:  (1) Eligibility for the program shall be limited to students who graduated in the top quarter of their high school classes, who agree to complete a four-year bachelor's degree program in a public institution of higher education in the commonwealth and who commit to and actually teach for four years in a public school in the commonwealth upon successful completion of a bachelor's degree from the institution of higher education and the appropriate certification in accordance with said section 38G of said chapter 71.  (2) The program shall set forth an outreach plan to attract underrepresented populations to the teaching profession.  (3) Persons who participate in the program but do not complete their college education within six years of entering college or who fail to complete their four-year teaching commitment within six years following graduation from college shall be obligated to repay the commonwealth the tuition and fees advanced to them, with interest, as determined by the board of higher education.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 19e (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 19e - Principal and Superintendent Recruitment Program

Section 19E. There shall be a principal and superintendent recruitment program for recruiting and training as principals and superintendents in public schools individuals from other professions who have the skills, experience and talent to be outstanding school principals and superintendents, but who do not meet the existing statutory and regulatory requirements to serve as principals and superintendents. The program shall include the use of financial incentives and other methods for recruiting candidates and innovative methods for providing the necessary training.  The board of education shall promulgate regulations, where necessary, for the effective implementation of the program. The board shall establish standards that individuals who participate in the program shall meet to be authorized to serve as principals or superintendents. If the board determines that existing statutory or regulatory requirements for such service interfere with attracting highly qualified individuals from other professions who meet the standards established by the board, it may exempt such individuals from such requirements.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 20 - Educational Opportunities Information Center

Section 20. There shall be an educational opportunities information center in the office of the council to provide information and assistance to prospective college and university students, and to public and independent institutions of higher education on matters regarding student admissions, transfers, and enrollments.  Such public institutions shall cooperate with the center by furnishing such nonconfidential information as may assist the center in the performance of its duties. The center may request and receive similar information from private or other public educational institutions to the commonwealth.  An applicant for admission to an institution whose application is not accepted may send to the center appropriate nonconfidential information concerning his application. The center may, at its discretion and with permission of the applicant, direct the attention of the applicant to other institutions and direct the attention of other institutions to the applicant.  The center may conduct such studies and analyses of admission, transfers and enrollments as may be deemed appropriate.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 22a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 22a - Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center; Establishment; Powers and Duties of Board

Section 22A. (a) For purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-  ''Board'', the board of trustees of the Roxbury Community College.  ''Center'', the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center established in subsection (b).  ''College'', the Roxbury Community College.  ''Use for nonpublic purposes'', shall include, but not be limited to, the leasing or renting of the building for commercial entertainment activity.  ''Use for public purposes'', shall include, but not be limited to, use by public high school track programs, members of the abutting residential community or by members of the community at large and students, faculty, staff and alumni at Roxbury Community College.  (b) There shall be established the Reggie Lewis Track and Athletic Center at Roxbury Community College. The center shall be a building containing a Massachusetts state track facility which shall be maintained at the college for public purposes. In the event the facility is not in use for public purposes, the board may permit use for nonpublic purposes for a rental amount to be determined by said board.  (c) The board shall be responsible for the management and operation of the center including, but not limited to, the following:-  (i) establishing user fees;  (ii) entering into agreements with the Massachusetts State Track Coaches Association, with other public groups and, pursuant to this section, with nonpublic groups for nonpublic purposes;  (iii) establishing rules and regulations for the use of the center by Massachusetts public high school track programs, by members of the abutting residential neighborhoods and members of the community at large, by students, faculty and staff and alumni of Roxbury Community College, and, by nonpublic groups for nonpublic purposes in accordance with this section;  (iv) deciding the priority of uses and schedule for the center, with input from an advisory committee; and  (v) entering into agreements with vendors to provide concession stand services and other agreements as deemed necessary by the board for the maintenance and operation of the center.  (d) The center shall be made available without charge for use by public high school track programs and Roxbury Community College. The center shall be made available on a user fee basis for members of the public. The center shall be made available at market rate, as determined by the board, for use for nonpublic purposes so long as the center is not being used for public purposes.  (e) The annual operating expenses of the center shall be separate and distinct from appropriations within the general appropriations act for the college, shall use a separate item of appropriation and shall be audited biennially by the state auditor.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 23 - Board of Trustees; Estimate for Institution's Ordinary Maintenance and Revenues

Section 23. Each board of trustees shall periodically prepare and submit to the secretary and the council an estimate, in detail, for the ordinary maintenance of its institution, including the salaries of all officers and employees of said institution and all revenues therefrom and any other such information as the secretary and the council may require or as provided in section three of chapter twenty-nine. Each board of trustees shall make requests to the council under the provisions of section seven of chapter twenty-nine.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 24 - Board of Trustees; Authorized Purchases

Section 24. Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, each board of trustees shall have the authority to make any purchase or purchases in the amount of two thousand dollars or less, and to purchase without limitation of amount library books and periodicals, educational and scientific supplies and equipment, printing and binding, emergency repairs and replacement parts, and perishable items, without recourse to any other state board, bureau, department or commission; provided, however, that in so doing the college shall follow modern methods of purchasing and shall, wherever practicable, invite competitive bids. Except as herein provided, the state purchasing agent shall on the certification of availability of funds purchase all items specified on requisitions submitted to him by any such board of trustees; provided, that the board of trustees shall have the right to review all bids received on any said board's requisitions and to make binding recommendations on the award of the contract based on the judgment of the board as to which of the bids best meet said board's specification on which the bids were received. Products assembled, manufactured or otherwise produced by the Massachusetts commission for the blind shall be purchased from the commission pursuant to the provisions of section one hundred and thirty-four of chapter six.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 24a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 24a - Cooperative Purchasing; Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium

Section 24A. With respect to purchases by a board of trustees authorized by section 24, including a purchase by the board of trustees of the University of Massachusetts as authorized by section 13 of chapter 75, a board of trustees and the board of higher education may join together for its purchases with one or more public or private educational institutions for the purpose of forming or joining a cooperative purchasing consortium to be known as the Massachusetts Higher Education Consortium; provided, however, that each such educational institution shall accept sole responsibility for all payments, debts and liabilities due the vendor for its share of such purchases. Said consortium shall be governed by a board of directors elected by its member institutions. Any paid staff of the consortium shall be located on the campus of a public member. Compensation of such staff shall be paid by dues or other consortium income and not by appropriation by the commonwealth; provided, however, that such staff may only enter into purchase agreements that have been procured through public bidding. Said consortium shall publish an annual report of its activities, which report shall include an audited financial statement which shall have been independently audited by a certified public accountant.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 25 - Refusal to Elect and Contract With Blind Teaching Candidates

Section 25. The council or a board of trustees shall not refuse to elect and contract with a candidate for a teaching position in any public institution of higher education because of the blindness of such candidate.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 26 - Summer Sessions; Evening Classes

Section 26. Each public institution of higher education may conduct summer sessions, provided such sessions are operated at no expense to the commonwealth. Each public institution of higher education may conduct evening classes, provided such classes are operated at no expense to the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 27 - Dormitories; Nonsmoking Rooms; Rules and Regulations

Section 27. Each public institution of higher education which provides housing for students in dormitories shall establish rules and regulations providing that a certain number of dormitory rooms shall be reserved for nonsmokers. Each such public institution shall provide a space on the application for admission or student housing for the applicant to indicate whether he would prefer to reside in a room where smoking was prohibited or whether he would prefer to reside in a room where smoking was allowed.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 28 - Establishment and Maintenance of Bank Branch on Grounds of Public Higher Education Institutions

Section 28. Notwithstanding any contrary provisions of law, the board of bank incorporation or the commissioner of banks is hereby authorized to allow a bank, as defined in section one of chapter one hundred and sixty-seven, to establish and maintain a branch on the grounds of any public institution of higher education in the commonwealth, provided that the council shall determine the method and terms of the lease if applicable or rental thereof.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 31 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 31 - Administrative Expenses; Determination of Qualifying Expenditures

Section 31. The council shall define which of those expenses at the institutional level are to be considered administrative expenses. In preparing their annual spending plans, each board of trustees shall indicate the amount of spending which falls under said definition. The council shall make public the amount of administrative spending at each institution and may, as a result, make recommendations relative to reducing such spending to provide for more efficient administration of the system of public higher education.
MA Gen L ch 15a § 32 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth|Chapter 15a - Public Education|Section 32 - Student Assessment System

Section 32. The council shall prepare a system of student assessment, to be administered within the public system of higher education, to measure student improvement, between the first and fourth years of attendance at public higher education institutions, on various tasks, including, but not limited to, ability to reason, communication and language skills, and other factors the council deems appropriate to evaluate, in order to assess the general performance of higher education institutions in fostering learning and academic growth. The council shall determine the method of assessment and shall publish the results of such assessment.