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Budget Recommendations
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Outside Section 63
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 Massachusetts Office of Dispute Resolution
SECTION 63.
Said chapter 75 of the General Laws, as so appearing, is hereby further amended by inserting after section 45 the following section:-
Section 46. There shall be at the university of Massachusetts at Boston an office of dispute resolution under the supervision and control of a director who shall be appointed by the provost with the approval of the chancellor and concurrence of the board of trustees. Said director shall be a person with substantial training and professional experience in dispute resolution, shall maintain complete impartiality with respect to the matters coming before said office of dispute resolution, and shall devote full time to the duties of the office.
Said office of dispute resolution shall be available to assist agencies and offices of the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of the commonwealth, as well as any political subdivision or public instrumentality created by the commonwealth or any county, city, or town, hereafter referred to as public agencies, to improve the resolution of disputes that arise within their respective jurisdictions. Said office is authorized to (a) facilitate the resolution of disputes through provision of impartial mediation and other dispute resolution services; (b) establish standards for the selection, assignment, and conduct of persons acting on behalf of said office in the resolution of disputes; (c) conduct educational programs and provide other services designed to reduce the occurrence, magnitude, or cost of disputes; (d) design, develop, or operate dispute resolution programs or to assist public agencies to improve or extend their existing dispute resolution programs; and (e) take such other action as will promote and facilitate dispute resolution by public agencies in the commonwealth.
The director may establish reasonable fees to be charged to disputants or public agencies for the provision of the educational, consultation, dispute resolution, or other services authorized herein and may apply for and accept on behalf of the commonwealth any federal, local, or private grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions to aid in the financing of any of the programs or activities of the office. Such fees, grants, bequests, gifts, or contributions shall be received by the university of Massachusetts at Boston and deposited in a separate account and shall be expended, without further appropriation, at the direction of the director, with the approval of the provost, for the cost of operation of the office, including personnel.
The office may make agreements with public agencies and officers and may contract with other persons, including private agencies, corporations, or associations, to carry out any of the functions and purposes of this section.
The office shall prepare annually a report on the activities of the office including all income and expenditures and shall file said report with the ways and means committees of the house of representatives and the senate.
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