reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 157b § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 157b - Cooperative Housing Corporations|Section 13 - Loans

Section 13. Any financial institution organized under the laws of the commonwealth and supervised either by the commissioner of banks or the commissioner of insurance shall be authorized to make loans secured by a pledge of a proprietary lease and the appurtenant stock of a cooperative corporation upon the same terms and with the same limitations as loans secured by mortgages of real property.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 1 - Application of Chapter; Secretary Defined

Section 1. The provisions of this chapter, unless expressly limited in their application, and except so far as they are inconsistent with other provisions of law relative to particular corporations or classes of corporations, or with the provisions of special laws, shall apply to corporations heretofore or hereafter organized under general or special laws of the commonwealth for the purpose of carrying on the business of a safe deposit company and to corporations heretofore or hereafter organized under general or special laws of the commonwealth for the purpose of carrying on within the commonwealth the business of transmitting intelligence by electricity or of a heat or canal or aqueduct company, and to any other corporations, except railroad, street railway, electric railroad or trolleymotor or power, gas, electric or water companies, which now have or may hereafter have the right to take land within the commonwealth by eminent domain, or to exercise franchises in public ways granted by the commonwealth or by any county, city or town. In this chapter, unless the context otherwise requires, ''secretary'' or ''state secretary'' means the secretary of the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 2 - Formation

Section 2. Any persons, to the number hereinafter provided, who associate themselves by a written agreement hereinafter described with the intention of forming a corporation for any purpose permitted under section one, upon complying with section nine, shall be and remain a corporation.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 3 - Corporations Formed to Furnish Steam, Hot Water, or Hydrostatic or Pneumatic Pressure

Section 3. For the purpose of generating and furnishing steam or hot water for heating, cooking and mechanical power, or for the purpose of generating and furnishing hydrostatic or pneumatic pressure for mechanical power, in any town, or for any two or more of said purposes, ten or more persons may associate themselves, with a capital of not less than one thousand nor more than five hundred thousand dollars.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 4 - Number of Incorporators; Capital

Section 4. For the purpose of carrying on any other lawful business for which corporations may be formed under this chapter, three or more persons may associate themselves, with a capital of not less than one thousand dollars. The capital of such companies other than gas and electric companies shall not exceed one million dollars.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 5 - Contents of Agreement of Association

Section 5. The agreement of association shall state that the subscribers thereto associate themselves with the intention of forming a corporation, the corporate name assumed, the purpose for which it is formed, the town, which shall be in this commonwealth, where it is established or located, the amount of its capital stock and the par value and number of its shares.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 6 - First Meeting

Section 6. The first meeting shall be called and record made as provided in section eight of chapter one hundred and fifty-six.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 7 - Subscribers to Hold Franchise; Distribution of Shares

Section 7. The subscribers to the agreement of association shall hold the franchise until the organization has been completed; and, unless it is otherwise provided in such agreement, each subscriber who elects to take such shares at the first meeting may take such proportion of the shares of the capital stock as the number of subscribers to the agreement bears to the whole number of shares, or any part of such proportion, upon paying the assessments thereon as called for by the corporation. All shares not so taken shall be disposed of as the corporation determines.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 8 - Organization

Section 8. At such first meeting, or at any adjournment thereof, the incorporators shall organize as provided in section nine of chapter one hundred and fifty-six.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 9 - Submission of Details of Organization to Secretary; Approval; Certificate

Section 9. The president, treasurer and a majority of the directors shall forthwith make, sign and swear to a certificate setting forth a true copy of the agreement of association with the names of the subscribers thereto, the date of the first meeting and the successive adjournments thereof, if any, and shall submit such certificate and also the records of the corporation to the secretary, who shall examine the same, and who may require such other evidence as he may judge necessary. If it appears that the requirements of the preceding sections, and of sections five and six of chapter one hundred and sixty-four in the case of gas and electric companies, preliminary to the establishment of the corporation have been complied with, the secretary shall so certify and approve the certificate by his endorsement thereon. Such certificate shall thereupon be filed by said officers in the office of the state secretary, who, upon payment of the fee hereinafter provided, shall issue a certificate in the following form:—  THE COMMONWEALTH OF MASSACHUSETTS.  Be it known that whereas (the names of the subscribers to the agreement of association) have associated themselves with the intention of forming a corporation under the name of (the name of the corporation), for the purpose (the purpose declared in the agreement of association), with a capital of (the amount of capital fixed in the agreement of association), and have complied with the provisions of the statutes of this commonwealth in such case made and provided, as appears from the certificate of the president, treasurer and directors of said corporation, duly approved by the state secretary and recorded in this office: Now, therefore, I, (the name of the secretary), secretary of the commonwealth of Massachusetts, do hereby certify that said (the names of the subscribers to the agreement of association), their associates and successors, are legally organized and established as, and are hereby made, an existing corporation under the name of (name of the corporation), with the powers, rights and privileges, and subject to the limitations, duties and restrictions, which by law appertain thereto.  Witness my official signature hereunto subscribed, and the great seal of the commonwealth of Massachusetts hereunto affixed, this day of in the year (the date of execution of the certificate).  The state secretary shall sign the same and cause the great seal of the commonwealth to be thereto affixed, and such certificate shall have the force and effect of a special charter and shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of such corporation. He shall also cause a record of such certificate to be made, and a certified copy of such record may be given in evidence with like effect as the original certificate.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 10 - Business Powers of Corporation

Section 10. A corporation may in its corporate name purchase, hold and convey real and personal property necessary for the purposes of its organization; may carry on its business, or so much thereof as is convenient, beyond the limits of this commonwealth, and may there purchase and hold real or personal property necessary for conducting its business; but it shall not direct its operations or appropriate its funds to any other purpose than that specified in its agreement of association or its charter, as the case may be, except as provided in the following section and in sections twenty-two and twenty-three of chapter one hundred and sixty-four. No conveyance or mortgage of its real property, or lease thereof for more than one year, shall be made unless authorized by a vote of the stockholders at a meeting called for the purpose.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 11 - Alteration, Addition to or Change of Business

Section 11. A corporation may, by a vote of all its stockholders at a meeting duly called for the purpose, alter, add to or change the business for the transaction of which it was incorporated, but it shall not engage in any business which is not authorized by law. A certificate setting forth such alteration, addition or change, signed and sworn to by the president, treasurer and a majority of the directors, shall be filed in the office of the state secretary.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 12 - Digging Up or Opening Streets or Highways; Qualified Corporations

Section 12. Corporations organized for the purpose of transporting the United States mail, merchandise and other articles by means of pneumatic pressure or power, corporations engaged in or organized for the purpose of manufacturing, buying, selling, distributing or dealing in artificial cold and refrigerating and cooling materials and corporations organized for any of the purposes mentioned in section three, may, with the written consent of the aldermen of a city or the selectmen of a town, dig up and open the ground in any of the streets, lanes and highways thereof, so far as is necessary to accomplish the objects of the corporation; but such consent shall not affect the right or remedy to recover damages for an injury caused to persons or property by the acts of such corporations. They shall put all such streets, lanes and highways into as good repair as they were in when opened; and upon failure so to do within a reasonable time shall be guilty of a nuisance.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 13 - Highway Defects Caused by Corporation; Liability

Section 13. If a person who is injured in his person or property by a defect in a highway which is caused by the operations of a company or corporation described in the preceding section in laying down or repairing its pipes or otherwise obstructing such way recovers damages therefor of the town wherein such injury is received, such town shall, if such company or corporation is liable for said damages and has reasonable notice to appear and defend the original action, be entitled to recover of such company or corporation the damages so recovered from it with the taxable costs of both parties in such action.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 14 - Pipes or Conductors in Street; Regulation by Municipality

Section 14. The aldermen of a city or the selectmen of a town in which pipes or conductors of such company or corporation are sunk may regulate, restrict and control all acts and doings of such company or corporation which may in any manner affect the health, safety, convenience or property of the inhabitants of such city or town.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 15 - Corporations for Introduction and Propagation of Herrings and Alewives; Local Permit

Section 15. A corporation which is organized for the purpose of opening outlets, canals, sluiceways or ditches for the introduction and propagation of herrings and alewives, before making any purchase of real estate or doing any acts in pursuance of its organization, shall obtain the written authority of the aldermen of the city or the selectmen of the town within which its works are to be located, and, within thirty days after obtaining such authority, shall file a copy thereof, certified by the city or town clerk, in the office of the state secretary. Such corporations shall be organized under and governed by chapter one hundred and fifty-six so far as applicable.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 16 - Water, Gas, Power and Wire Communication Corporations; Interest Upon Advance Payments by Customers

Section 16. If a corporation which has a franchise in and the use of the public streets of a town for the supply and distribution of gas, water, electric light or power, or for the maintenance of communication by wire or otherwise, holds for a longer period than six months money which is collected in advance from its customers to guarantee it against loss of charges or tolls, it shall pay annually upon said guaranty fund interest, at a rate fixed from time to time by the department of public utilities or the department of telecommunications and cable, to the depositors thereof which shall be applied to the payment of charges and tolls by said depositors. The annual return required of such corporations by section thirty-seven shall include a true statement of all money, and of the value of any collateral, so held as a guaranty for the payment of charges or tolls, specifying the amount so deposited by the inhabitants of each town. If such corporation fails or neglects to make such return or fails, neglects or refuses to pay such interest it shall be punished by a fine of not less than one hundred nor more than five hundred dollars.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 18 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 18 - Management by Officers; Selection of President

Section 18. The business of every corporation shall be managed and conducted by a president, a board of not less than three directors, a clerk, treasurer and such other officers and agents as the corporation authorizes for that purpose. The directors shall choose one of their number as president.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 19 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 19 - Selection of Directors, Clerk, Treasurer and Other Agents and Officers; Term

Section 19. The directors, clerk and treasurer shall be chosen annually by the stockholders by ballot, and shall hold office for one year and until others are chosen and qualified in their stead. The manner of choosing or appointing all other agents and officers, and of filling all vacancies, shall be prescribed by the by-laws.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 20 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 20 - Clerk's Duties; Treasurer's Bond

Section 20. The clerk shall be sworn, shall record all votes in a book to be kept for that purpose and shall perform all other duties assigned to him. The treasurer shall give bond for the faithful performance of his duty in such sum and with such sureties as shall be required by the by-laws.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 21 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 21 - Entitlement to Stock Certificates

Section 21. Every stockholder shall be entitled to a certificate of his stock, sealed with the seal of the corporation and signed by its treasurer or assistant treasurer and such other officer as the by-laws may designate.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 22 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 22 - Lost Certificates

Section 22. In case of the loss of a certificate, a duplicate certificate may be issued upon such reasonable terms as the directors shall prescribe.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 23 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 23 - Special Charter Corporations; Fixing and Limiting of Capital Stock

Section 23. The amount of the capital stock of every corporation established by special charter shall, at the first meeting of the corporation, unless the charter otherwise provides, be fixed and limited by the corporation and divided into shares, of which a record shall be made by the clerk.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 24 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 24 - Increase or Reduction of Capital Stock

Section 24. Every corporation, unless otherwise expressly provided, at a meeting called for the purpose, may increase or reduce the amount of its capital stock and the number of shares therein, within the amount limited by its charter, if a chartered corporation, and by the provisions of this chapter, if organized under general laws.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 25 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 25 - Special Stock

Section 25. A corporation may, by a vote of three fourths of its general stockholders at a meeting duly called for the purpose, issue special stock, the total amount of which outstanding at any time shall not exceed two fifths of the actual capital paid in on the general and special stock, and shall be subject to redemption at par after a fixed time which shall be expressed in the certificates. Holders of special stock shall be entitled to receive, and the corporation shall be bound to pay thereon, a fixed half yearly sum or dividend, which shall be expressed in the certificates, not exceeding four per cent, and they shall not be liable for the debts of the corporation beyond their stock.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 26 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 26 - Employees' Stock; Issuance

Section 26. A corporation may, by a vote of its general stockholders at a meeting called for the purpose, issue employees' stock to be held only by the employees of such corporation. The par value of the shares of such employees' stock shall be ten dollars, and the purchasers thereof may pay for them in monthly instalments of one dollar upon each share. The total amount of such employees' stock outstanding at any time shall not exceed two fifths of the actual capital paid in on the general and employees' stock.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 27 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 27 - Employees' Stock; Dividends

Section 27. If a dividend is paid by a corporation to its stockholders, the holders of employees' stock shall receive upon each share which has been paid for in full in time to be entitled to a dividend, an amount which shall bear such proportion to the amount paid as a dividend upon each share of the general stock of such corporation as the par value of the shares of such employees' stock bears to the par value of the shares of such general stock.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 28 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 28 - Employees' Stock; Transfer; Redemption; Limitation Upon Number of Shares

Section 28. The shares of employees' stock shall not be sold or transferred except to an employee of such corporation or to the corporation itself. A corporation which issues employees' stock may prescribe by its by-laws the number of shares which may be held by any one employee and the method of transfer and redemption of such stock as is held by any person after he ceases to be an employee of the corporation.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 29 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 29 - Assessment Upon Shares

Section 29. Every corporation may, from time to time at a legal meeting called for the purpose, assess upon each share such amount of money as it considers proper, not exceeding in the whole the par value thereof, unless the price is fixed as provided by section eighteen of chapter one hundred and sixty-four or section seven of chapter one hundred and sixty-six, and, in such case, not exceeding said price. Such assessment shall be paid to the treasurer at such times and by such instalments as the corporation directs.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 30 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 30 - Failure to Pay Assessment; Sale of Shares

Section 30. If the stockholder neglects to pay an amount duly assessed on his shares for thirty days after the time appointed for payment, the treasurer of the corporation may sell by public auction a sufficient number thereof to pay all assessments then due from him with necessary and incidental charges.
MA Gen L ch 158 § 31 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 158 - Certain Miscellaneous Corporations|Section 31 - Notice of Sale; Transfer of Shares Sold

Section 31. The treasurer shall give notice of the time and place appointed for such sale, and of the amount due on each share, by advertising the same three weeks successively before the sale in a newspaper, published in the county where the corporation is established; and an assignment of the shares so sold, made by the treasurer and acknowledged before a justice of the peace and recorded in the books of the corporation, shall transfer said shares to the purchaser, who shall be entitled to a certificate therefor.