reglab/statecodes huggingface dataset:
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 98 - Duties of State Finance and Governance Board

Section 98. (a) The board shall promote transparency, public accountability and adherence to best practices by all state entities with respect to proper governance of state entities and investments, borrowing or other financial transactions made or entered into by state entities and involving public funds, including tax supported debt. The board shall make an annual written report to the secretary, the state treasurer, the state auditor, the house and senate committees on ways and means and the senate and house committees on bonding, capital expenditures and state assets with respect to its findings regarding investments, borrowing and other financial transactions carried out by state entities and its activities to promote proper governance, transparency, public accountability and best practices. If the board so requests, the secretary shall provide the board with copies of reports and other information about the accountability and transparency of state authorities, provided to the secretary under section 29K of chapter 29.
(b) The board shall conduct a review, before its execution, of any transaction relating to derivative financial products, proposed to be entered into by a state entity. All state entities shall submit to the board the terms of the proposed transaction and any supporting documents. The board shall complete its review of the proposed transaction and notify the submitting entity of its conclusions within a reasonable period of time after receiving the proposal.
(c) In order to carry out its duties, the board may:
(1) adopt regulations or guidelines requiring state entities to report, adopt appropriate policies and adhere to best practices with respect to governance, investments, borrowing and other financial transactions, but any such regulations or guidelines shall not apply to the commonwealth;
(2) make recommendations to state entities or state officers and propose legislative changes to improve governance practices or the management of public funds;
(3) conduct oversight hearings with respect to governance practices, investment, borrowing and other financial transactions made or entered into by state entities; and
(4) conduct meetings, conferences, or training sessions, maintain a website, publish materials or other activities to disseminate best practices to state officials, board members and managers of state entities and the public.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 101 - Obscene Literature Control Commission; Members; Appointment, Compensation, Etc.

Section 101. There shall be an obscene literature control commission consisting of seven members, of whom one shall be an educator, one a representative of the Protestant faith, one a representative of the Catholic faith and one a representative of the Jewish faith, to be appointed by the governor, with the advice and consent of the council, for terms of five years. The governor shall in like manner fill any vacancy for the unexpired term. The members shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for all traveling expenses incurred by them in the administration of their duties. Said commission shall, in order to facilitate the enforcement of sections twenty-eight to thirty-two, inclusive, of chapter two hundred and seventy-two, recommend to the attorney general, whenever it appears that a violation of the provisions of said sections has occurred, that appropriate action be taken thereunder. Said commission shall be provided with suitable quarters in the state house or elsewhere, and the attorney general shall provide secretarial, clerical and such other services as he deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section. Said commission shall meet at least once a month, except that any such meeting may be omitted by a two-thirds' vote of those present and voting at the preceding meeting. Not more than fifteen meetings shall be held in any year.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 106 - Duties of Commission

Section 106. The commission shall promote employment to maximize the independence, productivity, and integration of all citizens in the commonwealth with disabilities. Said purposes shall be accomplished through the encouragement and advocacy by the commission of the following: (i) plans to promote, develop, and coordinate effective education, transition, employment and training services to facilitate the employment of persons with disabilities at the state and local levels; (ii) the development of and access to educational programs that will enable students with disabilities to enter employment; (iii) the dissemination of information about available services and resources to persons who are disabled, families, advocates, and employers; (iv) the creation of greater awareness of the abilities of persons with disabilities; (v) the expansion of employment opportunities for persons with disabilities in both the public and private sectors; (vi) the creation of work environments which enable persons with disabilities to achieve their full potential; and (vii) the acceptance, appreciation, and support of such persons by employers and employees.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 107 - Annual Reports; Compensation of Members; Executive Secretary; Gifts and Bequests

Section 107. The commission shall report annually to the general court and to the governor its activities and its recommendations. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services. The commission may appoint an executive secretary who shall be exempt from the provisions of chapter thirty-one. The commission may expend for the salary of the executive secretary and for other expenses such sums as may be appropriated. The commission may also receive funds by gift, bequest and otherwise and expend the same in carrying out its program of promoting the employment of people with disabilities.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 115a - Unit Pricing of Packaged Commodities; Retail Sale; Regulations; Enforcement; Penalties; Report

Section 115A. The director of standards may adopt regulations establishing lists of packaged commodities necessary for personal, family or household use to be offered for sale at retail and which may not be sold in retail stores unless there is posted in a conspicuous place at or near the point of sale the price per pound, pint or other unit or measurement of contents and the total sales price. Such regulations shall exempt any packaged commodity whose net weight is one whole unit or two whole units and which has the retail price plainly marked thereon. No packaged commodity shall be included in these regulations which must be individually marked with the cost per unit of weight, liquid, or dry measure, as provided in section one hundred and eighty-one of chapter ninety-four. Said director of standards may adopt such further regulations as are necessary to carry out the intent of this section, provided that a public hearing shall be held relative to any packaged commodity proposed to be regulated. The director of standards and local sealers and deputy sealers of weights and measures and local inspectors and deputy inspectors of weights and measures in cities and towns shall enforce any regulation adopted pursuant to the authorization contained in this section, and shall issue notices of violations of this section. Whoever violates any provision of this section shall for the first offense be punished by a fine of not less than ten nor more than fifty dollars, and for a subsequent offence by a fine of not less than twenty-five nor more than one hundred dollars or shall be subject to a civil citation as provided in section 29A of chapter 98.
Said director of standards shall annually report to the general court on or before the last Wednesday in January of each year relative to any action taken by it pursuant to this section in the preceding year.
This section shall not apply to a retail establishment that has a sales volume of less than $5,000,000 per year of in-store sales.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116b - Hate Crimes; Police Instruction

Section 116B. The municipal police training committee shall provide instruction for police officers in identifying, responding to and reporting all incidents of hate crime, as defined in section thirty-two of chapter twenty-two C. The municipal police training committee shall include such instruction in all curricula for recruits and in-service trainees and in all police schools, academies and programs operated or certified by said committee.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116c - Development and Establishment of Course on Use and Application of Technology to Increase Public Safety; Regional and Municipal Police Training Schools

Section 116C. (a) The municipal police training committee shall develop and establish within the recruit basic training curriculum a course for police training schools, academies and programs for the training of law enforcement officers in the commonwealth in law enforcement and related public safety technology. The course of instruction shall stress the use and application of technology to increase public safety.
(b) The course of basic training for law enforcement officers shall include, but not be limited to, at least twenty hours of instruction in the use and application of the following:
(1) introduction to computer technology;
(2) use of the department of criminal justice information services law enforcement agencies processing system;
(3) general office automation applications;
(4) data usage and system security policy and procedure; and
(5) introduction to mobile computing.
(c) All law enforcement recruits shall receive the course of basic training for law enforcement officers, established in subsections (a) and (b), as part of their required certification process.
(d) The course of instruction in law enforcement technology shall be taught so that there will not be an increase in the currently required four hundred and eighty hours of recruit training curriculum.
(e) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for training, and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in consultation with the executive office of public safety, the office of management information systems, the department of criminal justice information services, and other appropriate groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in the field of public safety and law enforcement technology.
(f) The municipal police training committee periodically may include within its in-service training curriculum a course of instruction on public safety and law enforcement technology consistent with the provisions of subparagraphs 1 to 5, inclusive, of subsection (b), and when law enforcement technology training centers are not being used by recruit classes they shall be available to in-service trainees and any other public safety officers.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116d - Protection, Care and Custody of Minors Upon Arrest of Parents or Guardians; Police Instruction

Section 116D. The municipal police training committee shall provide instruction, under section 96B of chapter 41, on the policies and procedures developed under clause (9) of section 183/4 of chapter 6A for the identification and immediate protection, care and custody of minors whose parents or guardians are arrested or placed in custody by police officers. The instruction shall be provided in the recruit basic training curriculum, in-service officers training, courses of supervisory training, and dispatcher and communication officer training.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116e - Development and Establishment of Course in Bicycle Safety Enforcement

Section 116E. (a) The municipal police training committee shall develop and establish within the recruit basic training curriculum a course for police training schools, academies and programs for the training of law enforcement officers in bicycle safety enforcement and develop guidelines for traffic enforcement for bicyclist safety.
(b) The course in bicycle safety enforcement shall include, but not be limited to, instruction in the procedures and techniques described below:
(1) the rights and duties of bicyclists set forth in chapter 85;
(2) patterns and sources of injuries to bicyclists, both those involving and those not involving motor vehicles and the percentage of crashes involving cyclists riding against traffic, riding at night and riding on sidewalks;
(3) the most dangerous actions by bicyclists and procedures for citing bicyclists, including minors;
(4) common motorist actions causing bicycle crashes;
(5) reporting bicyclist crashes; and
(6) motorists intentionally endangering bicyclists.
(c) All law enforcement recruits shall receive the course in bicycle safety enforcement as part of their required training program.
(d) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives, the standards for training and the guidelines shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in consultation with the Massachusetts Bicycle Advisory Board and appropriate groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in bicycle safety.
(e) The municipal police training committee may include this course of instruction within its in-service training curriculum available to in-service trainees and any other public safety officers.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116f - Harbormaster Training Council

Section 116F. There shall be a harbormaster training council within the executive office of public safety. The council shall consist of 11 members, 1 of whom shall be a member of the state police marine unit with knowledge of marine law enforcement and operations who shall be appointed by the colonel of state police; 1 of whom shall be a representative of the environmental police with knowledge of marine law enforcement and operations who shall be appointed by the secretary of energy and environmental affairs; 1 of whom shall be an employee of the executive office of public safety who shall be appointed by the secretary of public safety to serve ex officio; 1 of whom shall be an employee of United States First Coast Guard District to be appointed by the district commander who shall serve ex officio; and 7 of whom shall be harbormasters appointed by the governor, 2 of whom shall be from the coastal communities north of Boston, 2 of whom shall be from coastal communities south of Boston, 2 of whom shall be from coastal communities from Cape Cod and the Islands and 1 of whom shall be from the city of Boston. Members appointed by the governor shall serve for 2–year terms and their successors shall be appointed in like manner. Members of the council shall serve without compensation.
The council shall set policies and standards for training harbormasters and assistant harbormasters in accordance with applicable laws and regulations including sections 19 to 21, inclusive, of chapter 102.
The expenses of the council shall be funded solely from the Harbormaster Training Trust Fund established in section 35KK of chapter 10.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116g - In-Service Training Program for Local Law Enforcement Officers and Officials; Bias-Free Policing; De-Escalation and Disengagement Tactics; Incidents Impacted by Mental Health or Developmental Disability Issues

Section 116G. (a) As used in this section, ''bias-free policing shall have the same meaning as defined in section 1 of chapter 6E.
(b) The municipal police training committee, in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security, shall establish and develop an in-service training program designed to train local law enforcement officers and officials in the following areas:
(i) practices and procedures related to bias-free policing which shall include, but not be limited to, examining attitudes and stereotypes that affect the actions and decisions of law enforcement officers;
(ii) practices and techniques for law enforcement officers in civilian interaction and to promote procedural justice, which shall emphasize de-escalation and disengagement tactics and techniques and procedures, including developmentally appropriate de-escalation and disengagement tactics, techniques and procedures and other alternatives to the use of force for minor children, that build community trust and maintain community confidence;
(iii) handling emergencies and complaints, including, but not limited to, those involving victims, witnesses or suspects with mental illness, substance use disorder, trauma history or developmental or intellectual disabilities, which shall include training related to common behavior and actions exhibited by such individuals, strategies law enforcement officers may use for reducing or preventing the risk of harm and strategies that involve the least intrusive means of addressing such incidences and individuals while protecting the safety of the law enforcement officer and other persons; provided, however, that training presenters shall include certified mental health practitioners with expertise in the delivery of direct services to individuals, including victims, witnesses or suspects with mental illness, substance use disorder, trauma history or developmental or intellectual disabilities in emergency situations;
(iv) practices and techniques related to responding to mass gatherings or protests that shall emphasize de-escalation and minimizing the necessity for use of force; and
(v) cultural competency.
(c) The committee shall determine training requirements and minimum standards of the program that all local law enforcement agencies throughout the commonwealth shall implement in their practices and training of law enforcement officials.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116h - Municipal Police Training Committee; In-Service Training Program for School Resource Officers

Section 116H. (a) The municipal police training committee shall establish and develop an in-service training program designed to train school resource officers, as defined in section 37P of chapter 71. Such program shall include training on: (i) the ways in which legal standards regarding police interaction and arrest procedures differ for juveniles compared to adults; (ii) child and adolescent cognitive development, which shall include instruction on common child and adolescent behaviors, actions and reactions as well as the impact of trauma, mental illness, behavioral addictions, such as gaming and gambling disorder, and developmental disabilities on child and adolescent development and behavior; (iii) engagement and de-escalation tactics that are specifically effective with youth; and (iv) strategies for resolving conflict and diverting youth in lieu of making an arrest. Such program shall also include training related to: (i) hate crime identification and prevention training curriculum including acquisition of practical skills to prevent, respond to and investigate hate crimes and hate incidents and their impacts on victim communities; (ii) anti-bias, anti-racism and anti-harassment strategies; (iii) bullying and cyberbullying; and (iv) comprehensive training to help school resource officers interact effectively with school personnel, victim communities and build public confidence with cooperation with law enforcement agencies.
(b) The course of instruction, the learning and performance objectives and the curriculum and standards for training developed pursuant to this section shall be developed in consultation with experts on child and adolescent development and child trauma and with educators and attorneys experienced in juvenile and education law and preventing and addressing youth hate crimes.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116i - Municipal Police Training Committee; Training Program for Appropriate Interactions With Persons on the Autism Spectrum or With Other Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities

Section 116I. The municipal police training committee shall establish and develop within the recruit basic training curriculum a program for regional and municipal police training schools for the training of law enforcement officers in the commonwealth in appropriate interactions with persons on the autism spectrum and those with other intellectual and developmental disabilities. The program shall include training for law enforcement response to individuals on the autism spectrum and those with other intellectual and developmental disabilities who are victims or witnesses to a crime or suspected or convicted of a crime.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116j - Municipal Police Training Committee; Basic and In-Service Training Programs for Regulation of Physical Force

Section 116J. The municipal police training committee, in consultation with the executive office of public safety and security, shall establish and develop basic and in-service training programs designed to train officers on the regulation of physical force under section 14 of chapter 6E. Such programs shall be included in basic and in-service training for all law enforcement officers.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 116k - Municipal Police Training Committee; Basic and In-Service Training Programs on Mental Wellness and Suicide Prevention

Section 116K. (a) The municipal police training committee shall develop and establish, within its recruit basic training curriculum and its in-service training curriculum available to in-service trainees, a course for police training schools, academies and programs for the training of law enforcement officers on mental wellness and suicide prevention. The course, which shall consist of 2 hours of total instruction annually, shall teach law enforcement officers how to: (i) utilize healthy coping skills to manage the stress and trauma of policing; (ii) recognize the symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder within themselves and other officers; and (iii) recognize the signs of suicidal behavior within themselves and other officers.
(b) The course shall include information on the mental health resources available to help law enforcement officers and shall be designed to reduce and eliminate the stigma associated with law enforcement officers receiving mental health services.
(c) The course of instruction shall be developed by the municipal police training committee in consultation with appropriate groups and individuals having an interest and expertise in law enforcement mental health and suicide prevention.
(d) All law enforcement officers shall annually attend and complete a course on mental wellness and suicide prevention.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 117 - Meetings; Compensation of Members

Section 117. The committee shall meet monthly and at other times when ordered by the governor, secretary or chairman or upon the written request of 3 members. Committee members shall serve without compensation but may be reimbursed for their necessary expenses incurred in the discharge of their official committee duties. The committee shall advise the advisory, nonvoting members of the dates and times of committee meetings and the advisory, nonvoting members may attend such meetings.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 118 - Municipal Police Training Schools; Approval; Rules and Regulations Relative to Schools

Section 118. The municipal police training committee shall approve or disapprove municipal police training schools and shall make rules and regulations subject to the approval of the governor and council, for such schools, relating to courses of study, attendance requirements, equipment and facilities and qualifications of instructors. No municipal police training school shall be approved unless it provides for training members of the rape prevention and prosecution unit established by section ninety-seven B of chapter forty-one.
The municipal police training committee may establish a course within the recruit basic training curriculum for regional and municipal police training schools to train law enforcement officers on the application of section 34A of chapter 94C and section 12FF of chapter 112 and the procedures for response to calls for assistance for drug-related overdoses. The committee may periodically include within its in-service training curriculum a course of instruction on the application of said section 34A of said chapter 94C and the procedures for response to calls for assistance for drug-related overdoses. Upon request, the executive office of public safety and security, in collaboration with the department of public health, shall facilitate the collection and sharing of resources regarding the application of said section 34A of said chapter 94C.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 124a - World War II, Korean Emergency and Vietnam Conflict Memorial Commission; Members; Compensation; Honor Rolls

Section 124A. There shall be a World War II, Korean Emergency and Vietnam Conflict memorial commission, hereinafter called the commission, consisting of the secretary of veterans' services, ex officio, and two persons to be appointed by the governor, of whom one shall be a director of the U.S.S. Massachusetts Memorial Committee, Incorporated, a charitable corporation established under chapter one hundred and eighty. The appointive members of the commission shall be appointed for terms of three years. The members of the commission shall receive no compensation for their services as such members but shall be reimbursed for their necessary traveling expenses incurred in the performance of their duties.
Upon the transfer of the U.S.S. Massachusetts from the United States to said corporation said commission shall, with the consent of said corporation, erect and maintain thereon an honor roll in memory of those members of the armed forces of the United States from the commonwealth who died in the service of their country during World War II and the Persian Gulf War, also known as Operation Desert Storm, and suitable facilities to honor the dead of said wars. Said U.S.S. Massachusetts is hereby designated as the Massachusetts World War II Memorial.
Upon the transfer of the U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. from the United States to said corporation said commission shall, with the consent of said corporation, erect and maintain thereon an honor roll in memory of those members of the armed forces of the United States from the commonwealth who died in the service of their country during the Korean Emergency and the Vietnam Conflict and suitable facilities to honor the dead of said wars. Said U.S.S. Joseph P. Kennedy, Jr. is hereby designated as the Massachusetts Korean Emergency and Vietnam Conflict Memorial.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 125 - Health and Welfare Commission; Establishment

Section 125. There shall be a health and welfare commission, in this section and in sections one hundred and twenty-six to one hundred and twenty-nine, inclusive, called the commission, consisting of the commissioner of public health, the commissioner of mental health, the commissioner of transitional assistance, the commissioner of rehabilitation, and three members to be appointed by the governor, not more than two of whom shall be members of the same political party, and one of whom shall represent the Massachusetts Psychological Association. Said commission shall plan, co-ordinate and develop comprehensive programs in health and welfare services and facilities. Upon the expiration of the term of office of an appointive member, his successor shall be appointed in like manner for a term of three years, and shall serve until the qualification of his successor. Each appointive member of the commission shall receive the sum of fifty dollars for each day or part thereof of service as a commissioner; provided, that no such member shall receive in any fiscal year a sum in excess of five thousand dollars for his services.
The chairman and vice chairman of the commission shall be elected biennially by the members; provided, however, that no member may serve as chairman for two consecutive terms. The vice chairman shall assist the chairman and serve as chairman in his absence. The commission shall meet monthly, and at other times at the call of the chairman or as the commission may determine.
The commission may appoint an executive secretary, research assistants, and legal, clerical, and other assistants as may be necessary to carry out its duties. The executive secretary shall not be subject to chapter thirty-one nor to section nine A of chapter thirty, and shall be paid such compensation as the commission shall from time to time fix.
Funds received by the commission from the federal government, or from any foundation, corporation or other person shall be deposited with the state treasurer and be accounted for and audited in the usual manner prescribed for all agencies of the commonwealth. The commission shall not interfere with the administrative or policy making decisions of the departments of mental health, public health, or public welfare or of the rehabilitation commission.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 126 - Duties of Commission

Section 126. The commission shall review, and make recommendations for all new programs that provide for co-ordinating the services of the departments of public health, mental health, and transitional assistance, and of the rehabilitation commission. The commission shall, wherever feasible, recommend combined staff services for said departments and said commission in such areas as central accounting and fiscal operation, personnel services, legal, training, information, educational and statistical services, research for long-range planning and development, and joint studies.
The commission may serve as the communicative mechanism for the development and submission of plans to the various agencies of the federal government by state and local health and welfare agencies, and may serve in an advisory capacity for the receipt and disbursement of funds to medical schools, hospitals, laboratories, and other agencies participating in the planning, operation, and development of regional medical programs, hospitals, health centers and other facilities under any federal law providing such funds.
The commission may recommend the conduct of pilot studies, research and demonstration programs in co-ordinated health and welfare programming, and may receive and disburse funds to these ends. The commission may contract with the Massachusetts Health Research Institute, Inc., The Medical Foundation, Inc., the Massachusetts Committee on Children and Youth, and other qualified organizations, associations, corporations, or individuals to carry on approved research studies and to submit reports recommending ways and means of co-ordinating, consolidating or in other ways improving health and welfare facilities in the commonwealth.
The commission shall maintain full co-operation with all departments, divisions, agencies and boards of the commonwealth, all of its political subdivisions, all hospitals, universities, and other agencies whose functions are encompassed by the objectives of the commission, and shall receive from them, and render to them, all possible assistance.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 127 - Advisory Committee; Members; Meetings

Section 127. The commission may establish an advisory committee of thirty unpaid members, to be appointed by the chairman for a term of four years, of whom one shall represent the medical schools, one the Massachusetts Medical Society, one the dental schools, one the Massachusetts Dental Society, one The Massachusetts Public Health Association, one the Massachusetts Hospital Association, one the Massachusetts Hospital Service, Inc., one the department of corrections, one the youth service board, one the division of employment and training, one the department of education, one the department of elder affairs, one the Massachusetts Mental Health Association, one representative of a community chest organization or community health and welfare council serving an area containing two hundred thousand or more residents, one the Massachusetts Heart Association, one the Massachusetts Cancer Society, one the consumers' council, one The Massachusetts Health Council, Inc., one the Massachusetts Medical Service, one the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, one the Massachusetts Chapter of the National Rehabilitation Association, one the Massachusetts Committee on Children and Youth, one the drug addiction rehabilitation board, one the Massachusetts State Labor Council, AFL–CIO, one the Associated Industries of Massachusetts, one The Massachusetts Selectman's Association, Inc., one The Massachusetts Mayors Association, Inc., one the Massachusetts League of Women Voters and one the Public Welfare Administrators Association of Massachusetts.
Said advisory committee shall meet at least once a year to receive an annual report from the commission. Other meetings of the advisory committee may be called at the discretion of the commission, for the purpose of discussing proposed plans and programs for co-ordinating health and welfare services of the commonwealth.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 128 - Regional Offices; Service Regions; Regional Advisory Committees; Annual Reports

Section 128. The commission may establish regional offices equipped to offer the public complete information or services which are the responsibility of any of said three departments of mental health, public health, public welfare and the rehabilitation commission.
The commission shall give high priority to establishing service regions, and to offering comprehensive service to the citizens, thereby preventing unnecessary traveling from office to office seeking information, advice, or assistance from each of said departments and said commission.
The commission may also organize regional advisory committees of not more than thirty persons to be appointed by the chairman to aid in planning for, locating or operating the combined regional health and welfare service facility. Membership on the regional advisory committee shall be from the same categories of persons listed in section one hundred and twenty-seven.
The commission shall report annually to the general court.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 129 - Massachusetts Commission for the Blind; Composition; Cooperation With Federal Agency; Commissioner; Advisory Board

Section 129. There shall be a commission for the blind, to be known as the Massachusetts commission for the blind, in this section and in sections one hundred and thirty to one hundred and forty-nine, inclusive, called the commission, consisting of a commissioner of the blind and an advisory board of five members as hereinafter described. The commission shall cooperate with the United States Department of Education or its successors in the administration of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act and may expend such state, federal or other funds as are available for such purpose.
The commissioner for the blind shall be appointed by the secretary of health and human services, with the approval of the governor for a term of five years and until his successor is duly appointed and qualified. The position of commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty and he shall devote his entire time to the duties of his office during business hours.
The advisory board shall consist of five persons, qualified by training, experience, or demonstrated interest in the amelioration of the condition of the blind to be appointed by the secretary of health and human services, with the approval of the governor, for a term of five years. Upon expiration of the term of any member, his successor shall be appointed in like manner for a term of five years. Said members of the advisory board shall elect their chairman and shall meet at least once a month. They shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties. If any member is absent from three regularly scheduled monthly meetings in any one calendar year, his office as a member of said board shall be deemed vacant. The chairman of the board shall forthwith notify the secretary of health and human services that such vacancy exists.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 130 - Commissioner's Duties and Powers; Supervisors; Divisions and Directors; Assistance to Blind Persons; Funeral Expenses

Section 130. The commissioner shall be the executive and administrative head of the commission. The commissioner shall have charge of the administration and enforcement of all laws which it is the duty of the commission to administer and enforce. The commissioner may appoint and remove supervisors. The compensation of such supervisors shall be determined by the personnel administrator in the division of personnel administration. The commissioner, subject to appropriation, may also appoint and remove such other agents, teachers and clerks as may be necessary but no person employed or appointed by him shall be a member of the advisory board.
The commissioner may establish divisions and appoint directors as he deems necessary and such assistants and consultants as may from time to time be necessary to enable him to perform his duties. The commissioner may ameliorate the condition of the blind by devising means to facilitate the circulation of books, by promoting visits among the aged or helpless blind in their homes, by aiding individual blind persons in accordance with sections one hundred and thirty-one to one hundred and thirty-one E, inclusive, or by other means as he may deem expedient.
The commission may, if no other means are available, pay for the expense of the funeral and burial of blind persons aided under this section, a sum not exceeding eleven hundred dollars, provided that the total expense of the funeral and burial does not exceed fifteen hundred dollars; and provided, further, that any payment made by said commission shall be reduced by whatever resources may exist in the estate of such deceased blind person. Payment under this section may be made directly to the person furnishing such service.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 131 - Financial Assistance Program; Eligibility, Restriction; Payment Levels

Section 131. The commission shall administer a program of financial assistance for blind persons who reside within the commonwealth. Such assistance, which shall be called state supplementary payments, shall be based on need and granted in supplementation of benefits granted by the federal government to blind individuals, under the provisions of title XVI of the federal Social Security Act and amendments thereto. Such assistance shall be granted to persons who, on account of blindness, qualify for supplemental security income granted pursuant to said title XVI and may, based on need, be granted to individuals who would, but for their income, be eligible for such supplemental security income.
No assistance under this section shall be granted to an applicant who, at any time within two years immediately prior to the filing of an application for such assistance, has made an assignment or transfer or who has mortgaged or otherwise encumbered property so as to render himself eligible for such assistance.
The commissioner shall establish, subject to the approval of the secretary of the executive office of human services, standard levels for state supplementary payments for the blind. Such payments may vary by marital status and by living arrangements to the extent allowed by said title XVI and the regulations promulgated thereunder.
No person receiving assistance under this section shall be prohibited from receiving benefits under the federal Food Stamp Act solely because of his status as a recipient of such assistance.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 131a - State Supplementary Payments; Annual Increases

Section 131A. State supplementary payments for the blind shall be maintained at levels which increase annually at the same rate as state supplementary payments for the aged and disabled under section two of chapter one hundred and eighteen A.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 131b - Federal Agreement

Section 131B. At the discretion of the Social Security Administration, the commissioner shall enter into an agreement with the Social Security Administration, under which the commonwealth may administer the program of state supplementary payments authorized in section 1 of chapter 118A, or the Social Security Administration may, on behalf of the commonwealth, administer the program of state supplementary payments for the blind authorized in section 131. This agreement shall satisfy the requirements under section 3 of said chapter 118A which the Social Security Administration shall execute for the administration of state supplementary payments for the aged and disabled.
2023 Massachusetts General Laws › Part I - Administration of the Government › Title II - Executive and Administrative Officers of the Commonwealth › Chapter 6 - The Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Council, Certain Officers Under the Governor and Council, and State Library › Section 131c - Applications; Eligibility for Assistance

Section 131C. An application to the Social Security Administration of the United States Department of Health and Human Services for supplemental security income benefits on account of blindness pursuant to title XVI of the federal Social Security Act shall be deemed an application for state supplementary payment provided for the blind. Eligibility for assistance under section one hundred and thirty-one of an individual or couple meeting federal qualifications for more than one category of assistance shall be determined in accordance with federal law.