reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 164 § 8a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 8a - Amendment of Articles of Organization; Change in Business Authorized or Any Other Change

Section 8A. A corporation subject to this chapter may authorize, at a meeting duly called for the purpose, an amendment of its articles of organization, by vote of two-thirds of each class of stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, effecting any one or more of the following changes:  (a) an alteration of, addition to or change of the business for which it was incorporated, but it shall not engage in any business not authorized by this chapter; provided, however, that a gas company shall not be authorized to engage in the business of an electric company and an electric company shall not be authorized to engage in the business of a gas company unless, in either case, the department, after notice and public hearing, shall certify to the state secretary that the department deems the public convenience will be promoted thereby;  (b) any other amendment to its articles of organization; provided, only, that any provision added to or changes made in the articles of organization by such amendment could have been included in and any provision deleted thereby could have been omitted from original articles of organization filed at the time of such meeting. If any such amendment would adversely affect the rights of any class of stock, the vote of two-thirds of such class, voting separately, shall also be necessary to authorize such amendment. For this purpose any series of a class which is adversely affected in a manner different from other series of the same class shall, together with any other series of the same class adversely affected in the same manner, be treated as a separate class.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 8b (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 8b - Articles of Amendment; Submission to State Secretary; Effective Date; Filing

Section 8B. Within sixty days after any meeting at which any amendment of the articles of organization has been adopted or within thirty days after any necessary approval by the department, whichever is later, articles of amendment, signed under the penalties of perjury by the president or any vice president and by the clerk or an assistant clerk, setting forth such amendment and the due adoption thereof, shall be submitted to the state secretary. The amendment shall become effective when the articles of amendment are filed in accordance with section six of chapter one hundred and fifty-six B, unless said articles specify, in accordance with the vote adopting the amendment, a later effective date not more than thirty days after such filing, in which event the amendment shall become effective on such later date. A signed copy of any amendment which relates to an increase or reduction of capital stock shall also be filed in the office of the department.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 8c (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 8c - Restatement of Articles of Organization; Adoption; Submission to State Secretary; Filing; Effective Date

 Section 8C. Every corporation may authorize, at a meeting duly called for the purpose, by vote of a majority of each class of stock outstanding and entitled to vote thereon, a restatement of its articles of organization. The restated articles of organization may effect further amendments of the articles of organization; provided, however, that every such further amendment is lawfully adopted in accordance with the provisions of, and is authorized by, section eight or eight A. If the restated articles of organization only restate and do not amend the articles of organization, such restated articles may be authorized and adopted by the directors without a vote of the stockholders. Within sixty days after any meeting at which restated articles of organization have been adopted, or within thirty days after any necessary approval by the department, whichever is later, such restated articles, signed under the penalties of perjury by the president or any vice president and by the clerk and any assistant clerk, shall be submitted to the state secretary. Such restated articles of organization shall set forth all matter that would be required or permitted to be set forth in original articles of organization filed at the time of such meeting, other than the names and addresses of the incorporators, and shall indicate in a manner prescribed by the state secretary each amendment effected by such restated articles of organization.  The restated articles of organization shall become effective when filed in accordance with section six of chapter one hundred and fifty-six B, unless the restated articles or the vote adopting the restated articles specify a later effective date not more than thirty days after such filing, in which event the restated articles of organization shall become effective on such later date. From and after the effective date thereof the restated articles of organization shall be deemed for all purposes to have superseded the original articles of organization, or other charter documents, and amendments, and shall constitute the articles of organization of the corporation.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 8d (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 8d - Confirmation of Organization or Subsequent Proceedings; Certificate; Submission to State Secretary; Effective Date

 Section 8D. If doubts arise as to the legality of the organization of any corporation created by special charter for a purpose mentioned in this chapter, which is in the exercise of its franchise, or as to the regularity or sufficiency of the proceedings of any such corporation, whether created by special charter or formed under the general laws, in consequence of failure subsequent to the organization to comply with the directions or requirements of any statute, the stockholders, at a special meeting called for the purpose in the manner provided in section thirty-four of chapter one hundred and fifty-six B, may by vote confirm such defective proceedings and all subsequent proceedings of the corporation dependent thereon. The clerk or an assistant clerk shall thereupon under the penalties of perjury make a certificate setting forth the particular matters especially causing a doubt, and a copy of the call of the meeting and of the vote of the stockholders, and the date of holding the meeting, which he shall submit to the state secretary. The certificate shall become effective when filed in accordance with section six of chapter one hundred and fifty-six B and thereupon such proceedings shall be taken to be legal and valid as fully as if the requirements of the statutes had been satisfied.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 9 - Hydro-Electric Plants; Issue of Preferred Stock and Bonds; Acquisition of Storage Reservoir

 Section 9. An electric company which owns or operates an hydroelectric plant may, subject to all laws governing the issue of capital stock by electric companies, issue preferred stock of one or more classes to such amount, not exceeding twice the amount of the general or common stock then outstanding, as the department may from time to time approve; and, in approving, under section fourteen, the issue of stock or bonds by an hydro-electric company which has theretofore issued and has outstanding stock or bonds for which the approval of the department or its predecessors was not required, the department may direct that such new stock or bonds shall bear some distinctive designation. An electric company may, with the consent of the department and to such extent and upon such terms as the department may approve, acquire the stocks, bonds or other obligations of a corporation, association or person owning a storage reservoir in the states of Vermont or New Hampshire, the operation of which will be beneficial to an hydro-electric plant in this commonwealth owned by such company, or owning an electric system completed or under construction in another state from which such electric company derives or has contracted for an amount of electrical energy which in the opinion of the department is a substantial amount.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 9a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 9a - Electric Companies Providing Electricity to Other Companies; Ownership of Stock

 Section 9A. An electric company may, in its agreement of association or, in case of a company already organized, at any time and from time to time, by vote of two thirds in amount of all its stockholders at a meeting duly called for the purpose, state that it is organized for, or that thereafter its corporate purpose shall be, the generating and buying of electricity and the transmitting and selling of the same to two or more corporations specified in said agreement or vote as engaged in the electric light or electric power business, or both, in this commonwealth or adjoining states, including other purposes incidental thereto. Upon the approval of said statement by the department, such company shall be limited, in respect to its rights and obligations to transmit and sell electricity, to such transmission and sale as are authorized by this section. Such electric company shall have authority to transmit electricity to or for and to sell electricity to such of the corporations specified as aforesaid as are stockholders of said company, upon such terms as the department shall approve. Such electric company shall also have authority to transmit electricity to or for and to sell electricity to other corporations, municipal electric departments and other entities, engaged in the electric light or electric power business, or both, within or outside this commonwealth, provided that any such sale of electricity for delivery within this commonwealth shall be made upon such terms as the department, on application of such electric company, shall approve. With the consent of the department and to such extent and upon such terms as it may approve, any corporation specified as aforesaid may subscribe for, acquire, own and dispose of stock, bonds or other securities of such electric company, and may, with the consent of the department and upon such terms as it may prescribe, and in compliance with all provisions of law relative thereto, issue and sell its own stock, bonds or other securities to obtain the capital necessary to acquire the same.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 10 - Issuance of Capital Stock; Notification of Department

Section 10. A corporation subject to this chapter shall, upon an issue of its capital stock, other than stock issued upon conversion of convertible debentures authorized pursuant to section twelve A, within thirty days after the payment or collection of the last installment thereon, notify the department of such issue by filing in the office of the department a certificate of the amount of such issue and the fact of such payment, signed under the penalties of perjury by its president or vice president, and treasurer or assistant treasurer.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 11 - Payment of Price of Share

Section 11. No gas or electric company shall declare any stock or scrip dividend or divide the proceeds of the sale of stock or scrip among its stockholders unless the department approves; nor shall any gas or electric company except as provided in this chapter issue any share of stock to any person unless the par value of the shares so issued or the price thereof as fixed and determined under sections eighteen and nineteen is first paid in cash to its treasurer. The conveyance to such company of real or personal property shall be deemed a sufficient paying in of its original capital stock to such amount as may be approved by the department under the provisions of section fourteen.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 12 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 12 - Improper Issue of Stock or Scrip Certificates; Effect; Penalty

Section 12. All certificates of stock or scrip issued in violation of the preceding section shall be void; and the directors of the corporation which issues them shall be liable to a penalty of one thousand dollars each, to be recovered by indictment in any county where any of them reside; but if any such director proves that, before such issue, he filed his written dissent thereto with the clerk, and at no time voted therefor, he shall not be so liable.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 12a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 12a - Convertible Debentures

Section 12A. A corporation subject to this chapter, and subject to the limitations and restrictions of section fourteen, may, by a vote of the holders of a majority of its shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon at a meeting called therefor and with the approval of the department, issue debentures to be convertible into stock of said corporation, at the option of the holders of said debentures, in such manner, at such times, upon such terms and at such prices as may be fixed in such vote with the approval of said department and, upon the decision of the department, the shares of stock required for the conversion of said debentures shall be a part of the authorized capital of said corporation, and may be issued from time to time thereafter for the conversion of said debentures without any further authorization, order or decree by the department.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 13 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 13 - Mortgage of Property

Section 13. A corporation subject to this chapter may, by vote of the holders of a majority of its shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon at a meeting called therefor, or by vote of its directors under authority of a vote of the holders of a majority of its shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon at a meeting called therefor, mortgage all or substantially all of its property, including its franchise. All persons who acquire any mains, conduits, poles, wires, fixtures or other apparatus in, over, under or across public ways by virtue of such mortgage shall have the same rights and be subject to the same obligations relative to their erection, care, maintenance and operation as the corporation would have had, or would have been subject to, if the mortgage had not been made.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 13a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 13a - Issuance and Pledge of Bonds Secured by Prior Liens

Section 13A. A corporation subject to this chapter may, by vote of the holders of a majority of its shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon at a meeting called therefor, or by vote of its directors under authority of a vote of the holders of a majority of its shares outstanding and entitled to vote thereon at a meeting called therefor, and subject to the limitations and restrictions of section fourteen but without regard to the limitations and restrictions of section fifteen, for the purpose of securing other bonds issued by it, issue and pledge bonds secured by prior liens upon all or part of the property mortgaged to secure such other bonds, in a principal amount not exceeding the principal amount of such other bonds, such issue and pledge to be to such extent and upon such terms as the department may approve; and such prior lien bonds shall not be counted in applying any limitations of law upon the amount of its outstanding bonds or for purposes of section sixteen.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 14 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 14 - Proceedings to Determine Necessity of Issue of Stock, Bonds, Coupon Notes or Other Evidences of Indebtedness

Section 14. Gas and electric companies shall issue only such amount of stock and bonds, and of coupon notes and other evidences of indebtedness payable at periods of more than one year after the date thereof, as the department may from time to time vote is reasonably necessary for the purpose for which such issue of stock, bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness has been authorized. The department may take into consideration any resources of the companies available or which might have been available for said purpose. The department shall render a decision upon an application for such issue within thirty days after the final hearing thereon. The decision shall be in writing, shall assign the reasons therefor, shall, if approving such issue, specify the respective amounts of stock, bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness which are approved to be issued for the respective purposes to which the proceeds thereof are to be applied, and shall, within seven days after it has been rendered, be filed in the office of the department. A certificate of the vote of the department shall, within three days after such decision has been rendered and before the stock, bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness are issued, be filed in the office of the state secretary, and a duplicate thereof delivered to the corporation, which shall enter the same upon its records. A company subject to this section shall not apply the proceeds of such stock, bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness to any purpose not specified in such certificate. No application for the approval of an issue of stock shall be made unless authorized by vote of the directors passed not more than four months prior to such application.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 15 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 15 - Invitation for Proposals for Purchase of Bonds

Section 15. A gas or electric company, under the supervision of the department, selling, offering for sale or issuing, bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness, exclusive of stock, payable at periods of more than five years after the date thereof, shall invite proposals for the purchase thereof by advertisements in two or more daily newspapers, if there be such, in the city or town where the company maintains its principal business office, as reported in its annual return filed under section eighty-three, and in two or more newspapers published in Boston. It may, however, reserve the right to reject any and all bids. It need not invite such proposals with respect to an issue of bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness not exceeding one million dollars in face amount. The department may grant an exemption from part or all of the requirements of this section whenever it finds after a public hearing that the granting of such exemption is in the public interest. If no such proposal is accepted, it may sell the whole or any part of said bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to any person or corporation in such manner, at such times, and upon such terms as its directors shall determine.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 15a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 15a - Issue or Sale of Bonds, Etc. at Less Than Par Value or Face Amount

Section 15A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, a gas or electric company shall not issue or sell any bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness payable at periods of more than one year after the date thereof at less than the par value or face amount thereof. If the department finds than any such issue or sale below such par value or face amount is in the public interest, it may, notwithstanding the provisions of this or any other section, authorize the issue or sale of such bonds, debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness at less than the par value or face amount thereof and with such requirements for the amortization of the discount as it may deem necessary in the public interest. Its determination shall be made part of the vote of the department as provided in section fourteen and shall be certified and recorded as therein prescribed.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 16 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 16 - Making Good Impairment of Capital Stock

Section 16. If, when the department approves an issue of new stock, bonds or other securities by a gas or electric company, it determines that the fair structural value of the plant and of the land and the fair value of the nuclear fuel, gas inventories or fossil fuel inventories owned by such company is less than its outstanding stock and debt, it may prescribe such conditions and requirements as it deems best adapted to make good within a reasonable time the impairment of the capital stock; or before allowing an increase, it may require the capital stock to be reduced by a prescribed amount, not exceeding the amount of such impairment. The amount of impairment and the conditions and requirements imposed shall be stated in the annual report of the department. The supreme judicial or superior court shall have jurisdiction in equity, on application of the department, the attorney general, any stockholder or any interested party, to enforce this section and section fourteen and all orders and decisions, conditions or requirements of the department made in pursuance thereof.
MA Gen L ch 164 § 16a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XXII - Corporations|Chapter 164 - Manufacture and Sale of Gas and Electricity|Section 16a - Inadequate Depreciation Allowances; Corrective Orders of Department; Use of Funds Restricted; Enforcement

Section 16A. If, when the department under this chapter approves an issue of stock, bonds, coupon notes or other evidences of indebtedness of a corporation, or passes upon the price, rates, charges or service of a corporation, it determines that the provision made by the corporation for the depreciation of its property has been inadequate, the department shall order the corporation to set aside out of earnings such allowances for depreciation and for such period or periods as the department may from time to time prescribe. All monies required by such order to be so set aside shall be kept as a separate fund and shall not, without the further order of the department, be used for any other purpose than for renewals other than ordinary repairs, or for extensions, reconstruction and enlargements of and additions to plant, and the department shall prescribe in its order such requirements relative to the creation and maintenance of such fund and its application to such aforesaid authorized uses as it may deem advisable. All orders and decisions of the department under this section shall be enforced as provided in section sixteen.