reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 79 § 44 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79 - Eminent Domain|Section 44 - Taking by United States

Section 44. If the agents of the United States and the persons owning or interested in any property which is required for any purposes for which the United States is authorized to take property by eminent domain cannot agree upon the price to be paid for the interest of such persons therein, the United States may file a petition in the superior court for the county in which such property lies, praying for the condemnation of such property. Such petition shall contain a description of the property to which it relates, sufficiently accurate for identification, and a statement of the purpose for which it is sought to be taken. If the court, after notice to all parties interested, finds that the United States has the right to take such property by eminent domain, it shall determine the value thereof in accordance with this chapter, so far as it is applicable. If such value with costs and reasonable expenses to be taxed by the court is, within thirty days after final determination thereof, paid or tendered to said owners or parties interested, or in case of their neglect or refusal to receive the same, if it is paid to the commonwealth for their use and subject to their order, a decree of condemnation shall be entered by the court, and, if the property taken consists of real estate, a copy of the decree shall be recorded in the registry of deeds of every county or district in which said property or any of it lies, and the fee of said property shall thereupon vest in the United States.
MA Gen L ch 79 § 44a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79 - Eminent Domain|Section 44a - Tax Liens on Realty Taken

Section 44A. If real estate taken in whole or in part by eminent domain was at the time of said taking subject to any lien for taxes, assessments or other charges, which is extinguished by such taking, and if the collector of taxes of the town in which such real estate is located gives written notice of a claim of the amount covered by such lien to the body politic or corporate, on behalf of which such taking was made, prior to the payment of any award of damages for such taking or to the entry of judgment therefor, said collector shall be entitled to be paid such amount before any payment of damages for such taking is made to any other party; and any amount so payable on account of such taxes, assessments or other charges shall be deducted from the amount of such damages otherwise payable.
MA Gen L ch 79 § 45 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79 - Eminent Domain|Section 45 - Applicability of Chapter

Section 45. No real estate shall be taken for public use by the formal vote or order of any board of officers except under this chapter or chapter eighty A, and no damages shall be assessed for the taking or seizure of property for a public purpose or for injury thereto by authority of law, except under this chapter or chapter eighty A, notwithstanding any general or special act hitherto enacted; provided, that nothing contained in this chapter or in chapter eighty A shall be construed as amending or in any way affecting chapter two hundred and fifty-three.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 2 - Relocation Advisory Agency; Necessity of Qualification Prior to Displacement of Occupants

Section 2. No acquisition, rehabilitation, demolition, or other improvement which shall involve the displacement of occupants of dwelling units or business units shall be made unless and until the bureau has qualified a relocation advisory agency to give relocation assistance to the occupants to be displaced. Any agency, public or private, may be qualified by the bureau to act as a relocation agency until such time as the bureau may, on stated grounds, withdraw qualifications; or the bureau may qualify any agency, public or private, proposed by a displacing agency to act as a relocation agency with respect to particular acquisitions. The bureau may qualify a displacing agency to act as the relocation agency with respect to particular acquisitions.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 3 - Projects Displacing Occupants; Agencies to Provide Relocation Assistance

Section 3. Any public agency, or any person authorized to take by eminent domain, including corporations established under the provisions of chapter one hundred and twenty-one A, shall provide relocation assistance and payments under this act upon undertaking a project which results in displacement of occupants by the acquisition of real property or by the issuing of a written order to vacate for purposes of rehabilitation, demolition, or other improvement.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 4 - Relocation Plans; Submission; Contents

Section 4. At the time of the submission of an application for public approval or funding for a project involving the displacement of more than five dwelling or business units, the displacing agency shall submit to the bureau of relocation a relocation plan. The relocation plan shall show the names and addresses of all occupants to be displaced; the number of individuals, families, and business concerns to be displaced; the date on which such displacement will begin; the needs of the displaced occupants for relocation assistance; the availability of safe and sanitary housing, commercial buildings or sites within the means of occupants to be displaced; a program for their relocation; and a demonstration in accordance with bureau regulations that the relocation agency has coordinated the plan with other planned or proposed land acquisitions in the city or town which may affect the carrying out of the relocation program.  In the case of the displacement of the occupants of less than six dwelling or business units, the displacing agency shall not be required to submit any such relocation plan, but shall provide a relocation assistance program, as set forth in section six and shall pay any such displaced occupant relocation payments, as set forth in section seven.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 5 - Relocation Plans; Examination; Review; Approval

Section 5. If the costs of relocation assistance are reimbursable in whole or in part by the federal government and the relocation plan is required to be examined and reviewed by an agency or department of the federal government or to comply with the requirements of an agency or department of the federal government, the bureau shall receive the relocation plan for informational purposes and for the purposes of section nine. Any relocation assistance required under this chapter which is in addition to applicable requirements under federal law shall be subject to review by the bureau to determine whether there has been compliance with the provisions of section four. The bureau shall approve any plan which has been approved by such agency or department of the federal government and complies with requirements for such additional relocation assistance.  The bureau shall review all other relocation plans to determine whether there has been compliance with the requirements of section four and any regulations which are issued from time to time by the bureau in pursuance thereof, to determine whether there has been adequate provision for the needs of occupants to be displaced and whether there are adequate relocation housing and business locations for such occupants. The bureau shall approve any relocation plan which complies with the aforesaid requirements.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 6 - Carrying Out Relocation Plan; Program Requirements

Section 6. After approval has been granted in accordance with the provisions of section five, the relocation agency shall be authorized to carry out the relocation plan. Each relocation assistance program shall (1) fully inform eligible persons at the earliest possible date as to the availability of relocation payments and assistance; (2) supply displaced occupants with information concerning public and private housing programs, commercial sites, and social and economic assistance programs; (3) assist in securing within a reasonable period of time prior to displacement suitable standard replacement housing within the financial means of the families and individuals displaced; (4) assist owners of displaced businesses and farm operations in obtaining and becoming established in suitable business locations or replacement farms; and (5) administer relocation payments in a fair and equitable manner.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 8 - Substantial Changes of Relocation Plans; Notice; Review; Approval

Section 8. The taking agency or relocation agency shall inform the bureau of any substantial changes made in the relocation plan after approval under section five; and such changes shall be subject to review and approval under the provisions of section five.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 9 - Suspension of Approval of Relocation Plan; Notice

Section 9. If the bureau determines that a taking agency or relocation agency is proceeding with a project in disregard of a relocation plan approved under section five, and that relocation assistance being given is inadequate, the bureau shall so notify the relocation agency and the taking agency in writing, and may suspend its approval of the plan. Upon receipt of written notice of such suspension, the taking agency shall not further displace occupants until the bureau notifies it in writing that such suspension is withdrawn. Written notice of suspension shall be sent by registered mail, and shall state the specific reasons for such suspension.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 10 - Emergency Projects; Emergency Approval

Section 10. If a relocation plan required by section four is disapproved under section five, or approval is suspended under section nine, because the bureau determines that adequate relocation housing is not available, the taking agency may file with the bureau its certificate that the project involved is an emergency project which must be carried out in spite of the unavailability of such housing. If the bureau, after considering the foregoing and such other evidence as is deemed pertinent, determines that the project involved is an emergency project and that the public interest demands the displacement of occupants even though adequate relocation housing may be unavailable, emergency approval may be given, provided the relocation plan is satisfactory to the bureau in other respects.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 11 - Expenditure of Funds by Public Agency or Municipality; State Financial Assistance

Section 11. Funds appropriated or otherwise available to any public agency for the acquisition, rehabilitation or demolition of real property or any interest therein for a particular program or project shall be available also for obligation and expenditure to carry out the provisions of this act as applied to that program or project.  If a municipality acquires, rehabilitates, or demolishes real property, and state financial assistance is available to pay the cost, in whole or part, of the acquisition, rehabilitation, or demolition of such real property, or of the improvement for which such property is acquired, the cost to the unit of local government of providing the payments and services prescribed by this act shall be included as part of the costs of the project for which state financial assistance is available to such municipality, and shall be eligible for state financial assistance in the same manner and in the same ratio as other project costs.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 12 - Regulations; Powers of Bureau

Section 12. The bureau may promulgate regulations to carry out the purposes of this chapter and to assure that relocation payments are administered in a manner which is equitable and uniform; and may agree to waive with respect to any particular acquisition any provision of this chapter which would constitute a bar to federal reimbursement otherwise available with respect to any project on account of which such acquisition is proposed.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 13 - Enforcement of State Sanitary Code; Displacement of Persons; Moving Expenses; State Financial Assistance; Reports

Section 13. Any public agency displacing one or more persons by issuing an order to vacate real property for the purpose of enforcing Article II of the state sanitary code, pursuant to section one hundred and twenty-seven B of chapter one hundred and eleven, shall provide relocation assistance and a relocation payment to such person or persons for actual reasonable documented expenses in moving his personal property from the real property, unless such payment is otherwise provided. The provisions of this section shall apply only to real property which is not part of or constitutes the entirety of a project where relocation payments would otherwise be required.  In instances where such enforcement results in the eviction of occupants, the state shall reimburse the locality carrying out such enforcement for fifty per cent of the costs of providing such relocation assistance and moving payments. Such state financial assistance shall be contingent upon the provision of relocation services and payments as documented by periodic reports as required by regulation pursuant to section twelve.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 14 - Projects Utilizing Public Mortgage Financing; Moving Expenses

Section 14. Any person utilizing mortgage financing issued, insured, or subsidized by a public agency, including an agency of the federal government, for a project resulting in the displacement of occupants, shall provide relocation assistance and a relocation payment to any such displaced occupant for actual reasonable documented expenses in moving his personal property from such real property.
MA Gen L ch 79a § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 79a - Relocation Assistance|Section 15 - Severability

Section 15. 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 80 § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 80 - Betterments|Section 1 - Assessment of Cost of Public Improvements

Section 1. Whenever a limited and determinable area receives benefit or advantage, other than the general advantage to the community, from a public improvement made by or in accordance with the formal vote or order of a board of officers of the commonwealth or of a county, city, town or district, and such order states that betterments are to be assessed for the improvement, such board shall within six months after the completion of the improvement determine the value of such benefit or advantage to the land within such area and assess upon each parcel thereof a proportionate share of the cost of such improvement, and shall include in such cost all damages awarded therefor under chapter seventy-nine; but no such assessment shall exceed the amount of such adjudged benefit or advantage. The board shall in the order of assessment designate as the owner of each parcel the person who was liable to assessment therefor on the preceding January first under the provisions of chapter fifty-nine.
MA Gen L ch 80 § 2 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 80 - Betterments|Section 2 - Assessment Order; Plan and Estimate; Recordation

Section 2. An order under section one which states that betterments are to be assessed for the improvement shall contain a description sufficiently accurate for identification of the area which it is expected will receive benefit or advantage, other than the general advantage to the community, from such improvement, and shall refer to a plan of such area, and shall contain an estimate of the betterments that will be assessed upon each parcel of land within such area; and such order, plan and estimate shall be recorded, within ninety days from the adoption of the order, or from the acceptance by a town of the laying out, relocation or alteration of a way in case such acceptance is required before the establishment thereof, in the registry of deeds of every county or district in which the benefited area is situated. No betterments shall be assessed for such improvement unless the order, plan and estimate are recorded as herein provided, nor upon any parcel of land not within such area, nor for a greater amount than such estimate.
MA Gen L ch 80 § 3 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 80 - Betterments|Section 3 - Surrender of Land Assessed

Section 3. An owner of land abutting on a public improvement and liable to assessment therefor under this chapter may give notice in writing to the board, within three months after the award of damages is made, that he elects to surrender his land; and if said board adjudge that the public convenience and necessity require the taking of such abutting estate for the improvement named, they may take the whole thereof, and shall thereupon estimate its value, excluding the benefit or advantage accruing from such improvement; and such owner shall convey the estate to the body politic or corporate on behalf of which the assessment was made and may recover therefrom in contract the value so estimated. The commonwealth, county, city, town or district may sell any portion of said land which is not needed for such improvement.
MA Gen L ch 80 § 4 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 80 - Betterments|Section 4 - Collection

Section 4. Within a reasonable time after making the assessment the board shall certify to the assessors the list of assessments upon land in each town who shall forthwith commit such assessments with their warrant to the collector of taxes thereof, and he shall forthwith send notice in accordance, except as to the date of notice, with section three of chapter sixty, to the person designated under section one as the owner of each parcel assessed, and any demand for the payment of such assessment shall be made upon such person. Except as otherwise herein provided, the collector shall have the same powers and be subject to the same duties with respect to such assessments as in the case of the annual taxes upon real estate, and the law in regard to the collection of the annual taxes, to the sale of land for the non-payment thereof and to redemption therefrom shall apply to assessments made under this chapter, so far as the same are applicable; but the owner of land assessed shall not be personally liable for the assessment thereon. Every collector of taxes receiving a list and warrant from the assessors shall collect the assessment therein set forth, and at such times as the assessors shall direct, or in the case of assessments relating to state funded projects, as the collector of taxes and the board determine shall pay over to the treasurer of the body politic on behalf of which the assessment was made the amounts collected by him.
MA Gen L ch 80 § 5 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 80 - Betterments|Section 5 - Petition for Abatement; Filing, Etc.

Section 5. The owner of any real estate upon which betterments have been assessed may, within six months after notice of such assessment has been sent out by the collector, file with the board a petition for an abatement thereof, and the board shall grant such abatement as may be necessary to make such assessment conform to section one. Such petition may be filed with the clerk or secretary of the board, or delivered by mail or otherwise at their office. The board shall within ten days after their decision upon the petition give written notice thereof to the petitioner. If an assessment is abated by the board the assessment so determined shall stand as the assessment upon the land, and if it has not been paid shall be collected in the same manner as the original assessment. If the assessment has been paid, the person by whom it was paid shall be reimbursed by the body politic on behalf of which it was assessed to the amount of the abatement allowed, with interest at the rate of six per cent per annum from the time of payment.
MA Gen L ch 80 § 6 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 80 - Betterments|Section 6 - Filing Petition; Time Limitation; Extension

Section 6. If a suit in which the validity of an assessment is drawn in question is brought within the time for filing a petition to the board for the abatement thereof or within six months after the determination of an earlier suit involving the same question, brought within the time for filing such petition, which failed for want of jurisdiction, defect of form or other like cause not decisive of the merits of the controversy, the petition may be filed within six months after the final determination of such suit.
MA Gen L ch 80 § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XIII - Eminent Domain and Betterments|Chapter 80 - Betterments|Section 7 - Appeal to Superior Court

Section 7. A person who is aggrieved by the refusal of the board to abate an assessment in whole or in part may within thirty days after notice of their decision appeal therefrom by filing a petition for the abatement of such assessment in the superior court for the county in which the land assessed is situated. If a single parcel of land so assessed lies in more than one county the petition may be filed in the superior court for either such county, and the court in which such petition is first filed shall have exclusive jurisdiction thereof.