reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
MA Gen L ch 119 § 85 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119 - Protection and Care of Children, and Proceedings Against Them|Section 85 - Department Employees Reporting Animal Cruelty, Abuse or Neglect; Immunity From Liability

Section 85. (a) During any investigation or evaluation reported under section 51A, any employee of the department or person employed pursuant to a contract with the department, when acting in his professional capacity or within the scope of his or her employment, who has knowledge of or observes an animal whom he knows or reasonably suspects has been the victim of animal cruelty, abuse or neglect, may report the known or suspected animal cruelty, abuse or neglect to a police officer or a special state police officer appointed pursuant to section 57 of chapter 22C.  (b) The report may be made within 2 working days of receiving the information concerning the animal, by facsimile transmission or a written report or by telephone. In cases where an immediate response may be necessary in order to protect the health and safety of the animal, the report should be made by telephone as soon as possible.  (c) When 2 or more employees of the department are present and jointly have knowledge of known or reasonably suspected animal cruelty, abuse or neglect, and where there is agreement among them, a report may be made by 1 person by mutual agreement. Any reporter who has knowledge that the person designated to report has failed to do so may thereafter make the report.  (d) No person making such report shall be liable in any civil or criminal action by reason of such report if it was made in good faith. Any privilege established by sections 135A and 135B of chapter 112 or by section 20B of chapter 233, relating to confidential communications, shall not prohibit the filing of a report pursuant to this section.  (e) Nothing in this section shall impose a duty on the department to investigate known or reasonably suspected animal cruelty, abuse or neglect.  (f) Nothing in this section shall prevent the department, area office or subdivision from entering into an agreement, contract or memorandum of understanding with the entities that investigate reports of animal cruelty, abuse or neglect as described in section 57 of chapter 22C, to require such reports or to engage in training in identification and reporting of animal abuse, cruelty and neglect.
MA Gen L ch 119 § 86 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119 - Protection and Care of Children, and Proceedings Against Them|Section 86 - Use of Restraints During Court Proceedings

Section 86. (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall, unless the context clearly requires otherwise, have the following meanings:—  ''Juvenile'', (1) a person appearing before a division of the juvenile court department who is (i) subject to a delinquency proceeding, (ii) a child requiring assistance or (iii) a child in a care and protection proceeding or (2) a person under the age of 21 in a youthful offender proceeding.  ''Restraints'', a device that limits voluntary physical movement of an individual, including leg irons and shackles, which have been approved by the trial court department.  (b) A juvenile shall not be placed in restraints during court proceedings and any restraints shall be removed prior to the appearance of a juvenile before the court at any stage of a proceeding unless the justice presiding in the courtroom issues an order and makes specific findings on the record that: (i) restraints are necessary because there is reason to believe that a juvenile presents an immediate and credible risk of escape that cannot be curtailed by other means; (ii) a juvenile poses a threat to the juvenile's own safety or to the safety of others; or (iii) restraints are reasonably necessary to maintain order in the courtroom.  (c) The court officer charged with custody of a juvenile shall report any security concern to the presiding justice. On the issue of courtroom or courthouse security, the presiding justice may receive information from the court officer charged with custody of a juvenile, a probation officer or any other source determined by the court to be credible.  The authority to use restraints shall reside solely within the discretion of the presiding justice at the time that a juvenile appears before the court. A juvenile court justice shall not impose a blanket policy to maintain restraints on all juveniles or a specific category of juveniles who appear before the court.
MA Gen L ch 119 § 87 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119 - Protection and Care of Children, and Proceedings Against Them|Section 87 - Placement of Juvenile in Secure Detention Facility or Secure Correctional Facility or in Any Institution in Which Juvenile Has Contact With Adult Inmates

Section 87. (a) The department of youth services and the department of correction shall not place in a secure detention facility or secure correctional facility any juvenile who has: (1) been charged with or who has committed an offense that would not be criminal if committed by an adult, except juveniles who are held in accordance with the interstate compact on juveniles, as enacted by the commonwealth; (2) not been charged with any offense; or (3) been alleged to be dependent on the court, neglected or abused.  (b) The department of youth services and the department of correction shall not detain or confine any juvenile identified subsection (a) or any juvenile alleged to be or found to be delinquent in any institution in which they have contact with adult inmates; and shall require that individuals employed by the department of youth services or the department of corrections who work with both juveniles and adult inmates be trained and certified to work with juveniles by the department of youth services.  The department of youth services and the department of correction shall promulgate regulations and policies for the implementation, administration and enforcement of this section and maintain adequate records to ensure compliance with this section.
MA Gen L ch 119 § 88 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119 - Protection and Care of Children, and Proceedings Against Them|Section 88 - Participation in Community-Based Restorative Justice Program

Section 88. A child against whom a complaint is brought pursuant to this chapter may participate in a community-based restorative justice program pursuant to chapter 276B.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 1 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 1 - Child Support Enforcement Program; Public Policy; Remedies; Commission Established; Department of Revenue as Iv&ndash;d Agency

Section 1. It is the public policy of the commonwealth that dependent children shall be maintained, as completely as possible, from the resources of their parents, thereby relieving or avoiding, at least in part, the burden borne by the citizens of the commonwealth. It is hereby declared to be against the public policy of the commonwealth for a court of competent jurisdiction to enforce an agreement between parents if enforcement of the agreement prevents an adjustment or modification of a child support obligation when such adjustment or modification is required to ensure that the allocation of parental resources continues to be fair and reasonable and in the best interests of the child. The existing remedies pertaining to the support of dependent children are to be augmented by the additional remedies provided in this chapter so as to establish a comprehensive and effective child support enforcement program through expedited processes for obtaining, modifying and enforcing child support orders, including orders for health care coverage, and establishing paternity. This chapter shall be liberally construed to effectuate the policy stated herein.  There is hereby established within the executive office for administration and finance, the child support enforcement commission. Said commission shall consist of six members who shall be the secretary of the executive office for administration and finance who shall serve as chairman, the commissioner of revenue, the attorney general, the chief justice of the trial court, the commissioner of public welfare and a district attorney who shall be designated by the governor. Said commission shall monitor the child support enforcement system of the commonwealth and shall, from time to time, advise the IV–D agency and other agencies of the commonwealth, including the appropriate divisions of the trial court department, in matters for the improvement of the child support enforcement system of the commonwealth.  The department of revenue shall be the single state agency within the commonwealth that is designated the IV–D agency pursuant to Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act and hereinafter in this chapter shall be referred to as the IV–D agency. The commissioner of revenue shall establish a division of child support enforcement which shall be provided, subject to appropriation, with such resources as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter. Nothing in this chapter shall be construed to limit the authority of the commissioner to delegate to the IV–D agency any child support enforcement powers or duties assigned to him under any provision of law. Said commissioner may promulgate regulations for the effective administration of the child support enforcement program.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 2a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 2a - Intimidation of Officers or Employees; Obstruction; Penalties

Section 2A. Whoever willfully corrupts or by force or threats of force, including any threatening letter or communication, attempts to intimidate or impede an officer or employee of the commonwealth acting in an official capacity under this chapter, or in any other way corrupts or by force or threats of force, including any threatening letter or communication, obstructs or impedes, or attempts to obstruct or impede, the due administration of this chapter, shall, upon conviction thereof, be punished by a fine of not more than five thousand dollars, or by imprisonment for not more than three years, or both; provided, however, if the offense is committed only by threats of force, the person convicted thereof shall be punished by a fine of not more than three thousand dollars or by imprisonment for not more than one year, or both. The term ''threats of force'', as used in this subsection, shall mean threats of bodily harm to the officer or employee of the commonwealth or to a member of his family.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 3a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 3a - Establishment of Paternity; Genetic Marker Tests

Section 3A. In any case requiring the establishment of paternity, the IV–D agency may, on the basis of an affidavit by the mother or the putative father alleging that sexual intercourse between the mother and putative father occurred during the probable period of conception and without the necessity of obtaining an order from a court, order the mother, the child and the putative father to submit to genetic marker tests; provided, however, that the IV–D agency may order such tests only if no other man is presumed to be the father under section 6 of chapter 209C. Notice of the order shall be served on the obligor and individual obligee in accordance with rule 4(d)(2) of the Massachusetts Rules of Domestic Relations Procedure. Upon receipt of the results of the genetic marker tests, the IV–D agency may provide the parties with an opportunity to voluntarily acknowledge parentage pursuant to chapter 209C. If the parties do not voluntarily acknowledge parentage as provided in chapter 209C, the IV–D agency may commence an action to establish paternity pursuant to chapter 209C. If any party fails to appear for or refuses to submit to genetic marker tests in accordance with the order of the IV–D agency, or if any party contests the jurisdiction of the IV–D agency to issue the order for genetic marker tests, the IV–D agency shall commence an action to establish paternity pursuant to chapter 209C.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 7 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 7 - Entry of Support Order in Other Jurisdiction

Section 7. (a) If the IV–D agency is providing services to an obligee or to an obligor, it may enforce an income withholding order or a qualified domestic relations order pursuant to the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, 29 USC 1056, by sending notice of the withholding or qualified domestic relations order to the child support enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the obligor derives income, or directly to the obligor's employer or other source of income in that jurisdiction. The notice may be transmitted by any method including, but not limited to, paper, facsimile, magnetic tape or other electronic means. The notice shall be accompanied by a certification by the IV–D agency that the information contained in the notice accurately reflects its records.  (b) Upon receiving notice of a subsequent modification, the IV–D agency shall send notice of the order as modified to the child support enforcement agency of the jurisdiction in which the obligor derives income, or to the obligor's employer or other source of income.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 8 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 8 - Support Order of Other Jurisdiction; Filing; Documentation

Section 8. A child support enforcement agency, party to a child support order or other entity in a jurisdiction outside the commonwealth may request the IV–D agency to enforce a child support order issued by a court or administrative agency in another jurisdiction, or a lien arising under the law of another jurisdiction. The order or lien shall be accorded full faith and credit and the order or lien shall be enforced as if the order was issued or the lien arose in the commonwealth, without the necessity of registering the order with the court and without requiring judicial notice or hearing prior to the enforcement of such lien or order, provided that the IV–D agency, enforcement agency of another state, party or other entity seeking to enforce the lien complies with the procedural rules relating to enforcing orders or recording or serving liens that arise within the commonwealth. An order for genetic marker tests from a court or administrative agency of competent jurisdiction shall be accorded full faith and credit and shall be enforceable in the commonwealth.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 9 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 9 - Child Support Trust Fund

Section 9. There is hereby established, separate and apart from all the public monies or funds of the commonwealth, a child support trust fund, which shall be administered by the IV–D agency without liability on the part of the commonwealth beyond the amounts credited to and earned by the fund.  The fund shall consist of all child support payments from or on behalf of individual obligors paid to the commonwealth pursuant to this chapter, all fees charged and collected by the IV–D agency for its services, all penalties assessed and collected by the IV–D agency, all incentive payments made by the federal government for child support activities, and all interest or other earnings from monies in the fund.  All monies in the fund shall be pooled and available for support payments, refunds, and other payments authorized by this chapter; but, the federal incentive payments shall be expended only as authorized by Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 10 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 10 - Child Support Trust Fund; Separate Accounts

Section 10. The state treasurer shall serve as treasurer of the child support trust fund. He shall maintain within the child support trust fund 3 separate accounts as follows:—  (1) A child support payments account of amounts to be distributed, without appropriation, to the proper obligees. The IV–D agency shall transfer to the General Fund the state share of amounts collected pursuant to Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act.  (2) A child support services account to be expended, without appropriation, on child support services authorized pursuant to Title IV, Part D, of the Social Security Act. To this account shall be credited all fees collected by the IV–D agency, all federal incentive payments, and all interest and earnings of the fund attributed to federal incentive payments.  (3) A child support penalties account to be expended, without appropriation, pursuant to subsections (b) and (c) of section 10A and on child support services authorized pursuant to Title IV, Part D of the Social Security Act. To this account shall be credited all penalties collected by the IV–D agency, all amounts designated for this account pursuant to subsection (a) of said section 10A, all interest collected by the IV–D agency on the state share of arrears assigned to the commonwealth pursuant to Title IV, Parts A and E, and Title XIX of the Social Security Act, and all interest and earnings of the fund, except as provided in paragraph (2) of this section. The state treasurer shall report annually, on or before October 15, to the secretary of administration and finance and to the house and senate chairs of ways and means on the total expenditures from the child support penalties account in the prior fiscal year.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 10a (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 10a - Corrections for Overpayment, Underpayment, or Administrative Error

Section 10A. (a) If a case receiving IV–D services is otherwise eligible for case closure and the commissioner of revenue determines that (1) an obligor has made an overpayment of $10 or less of the amount of any child support owed by the obligor, or (2) child support in the amount of $10 or less is due to an individual obligee, the commissioner shall disburse the amounts to the obligor or obligee. If the obligor or obligee fails to negotiate the check issued by the commonwealth within 180 days of its issuance, the funds shall be placed in the account established pursuant to paragraph (3) of section 10, to be expended as provided in subsections (b) and (c) of this section.  (b) If the commissioner determines that the IV–D agency has distributed a payment to an individual obligee that was not a child support collection on behalf of the obligee, or that the obligee was otherwise not entitled to the payment, the IV–D agency shall make diligent efforts to recover the payment from the obligee, including deducting the amount, or a portion thereof, from future collections of child support made on behalf of the obligee. Recovered amounts shall be placed in the account established pursuant to paragraph (1) of section 10. Where the IV–D agency does not recover the payment, the IV–D agency may issue a refund of an overpayment to an obligor, or a replacement payment to an individual obligee on whose behalf the child support collection was made, from the account established pursuant to paragraph (3) of said section 10.  (c) If the commissioner determines that an individual obligee or obligor has incurred bank or similar fees as a direct result of administrative error by the IV–D agency, the IV–D agency may, at the discretion of the commissioner, reimburse the obligee or obligor for the fees from the account established pursuant to paragraph (3) of section 10.
MA Gen L ch 119a § 11 (2021)
2021 Massachusetts General Laws|Part I - Administration of the Government|Title XVII - Public Welfare|Chapter 119a - Child Support Enforcement|Section 11 - Child Support Trust Fund; Requisitions

Section 11. The state treasurer shall from time to time requisition from said child support trust fund such amounts, not exceeding the amounts credited to the child support payments account, as the commissioner of revenue deems necessary for the payment of child support to obligees in accordance with the provisions of this chapter. The state treasurer shall also from time to time requisition from said child support trust fund and from the child support penalties account such amounts, not exceeding amounts credited to the child support services account, as the commissioner of revenue deems necessary for a reasonable future period for the provision of child support services; provided that such amounts shall conform to a schedule of anticipated expenditures on file with the fiscal affairs division within the executive office for administration and finance and the house and senate committees on ways and means.