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Mass. General Laws c.121B

Housing and urban renewal

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§ 1 Definitions 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 253-254, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 2 Severability 
§ 3 Housing authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 3A Regional housing authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 4 Redevelopment authorities; creation; dissolution 
§ 5 Membership; appointment; election; term of office 

Amended by St.2020, c.358, § 71, effective May 14, 2021

§ 5A Waiver of requirement to appoint tenant member to housing authority board 

Amended by St.2020, c.358, § 72, effective May 14, 2021

§ 5B Comprehensive training program for members of a housing or redevelopment authority; technical assistance training for tenant members 
§ 6 Charges against members; hearing; removal; resignation; suspension 
§ 7 Officers and executive director of authorities; compensation of members 
§ 7A Guidelines for contracts to be executed by housing authority and executive director 
§ 8 Operating agencies; housing authorities 
§ 9 Urban renewal agencies 
§ 10 Designation of authorities 
§ 11 Powers of operating agencies 
§ 12 Wages; labor requirements; social security 
§ 13 Contract and tort liability; member's personal liability; relocation of utility facilities 
§ 14 Federal loans; conveyance upon default 
§ 15 Bonds, notes, certificates; negotiable instruments 
§ 16 Exemption from taxation for real estate and tangible personal property of operating agency; revaluation or reassessment of real property; payments in lieu of taxes 
§ 17 Liability of commonwealth or political subdivisions for debts of housing authority 
§ 18 Preparation of master plans, etc. by city or town; appropriation and payment 
§ 19 Initial costs and annual operating expenses of operating agencies; appropriations and payment by city 
§ 20 Development, acquisition and operating costs; relocation payments; losses; appropriation and payment by city 
§ 21 Indebtedness limitation 
§ 23 Municipal powers 
§ 24 Agreement to bear acquisition loss 
§ 25 Statement of emergency 
§ 26 Powers of a housing authority 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 255, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 26A Powers of department in city without housing authority; financing of projects; bonds and notes; issuance and sale; approval of city or town 
§ 26B Performance-based monitoring program; assessment standards 
§ 26C Best practices program for allowing authorities to work collaboratively; provisions of program; capital assistance team; director; members 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 256, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 26D Names and contact information of all members and senior staff to be posted on wall of community center and on website 
§ 27 Rural housing authority; additional powers 
§ 28 Application of laws, ordinances, and regulations of cities or towns relating to buildings, planning, zoning and public health 

Amended by St.2021, c.39, § 73, August 5, 2021

§ 28A Annual plan; availability to public for review and comment 
§ 29 Accounts and reports of housing authorities; review of financial records; availability to public; audit; investigations by department; rules and regulations of department 

Amended by St.2022, c.268, § 127, effective November 10, 2022

§ 30 Contract with federal government; acquiring federally owned project 
§ 31 Submission of plans for low-rent housing project to department; application; hearing; disposition 
§ 32 Maintenance and operation of project; rentals; tenant selection; eligibility for continued occupancy; hearings; waiver 
§ 32A Parking areas; rules and regulations; towing 
§ 32B Definitions 
§ 32C Unlawful conduct by tenant, members or non-members of tenant household; civil action by landlord for injunctive or other equitable relief 
§ 32D Actions by tenants or tenants' organizations 
§ 32E Jurisdiction over civil actions; appellate review 
§ 32F Restraining orders and injunctions; form; service; enforcement; violations; effect; modification and vacation 
§ 32G Temporary absences from commonwealth; presumption of abandonment of residency and eligibility for assistance 
§ 33 Equivalent elimination of substandard dwelling units 
§ 34 State and federal financial assistance; general provisions 

Amended by St.2022, c.268, §§ 128-130, effective November 10, 2022

§ 34A Contracts for state financial assistance on leased MHFA projects to provide replacement or relocation housing; annual contributions; limitations 
§ 34B Commonwealth guaranteed temporary notes; authorization and execution; sale and refunding limitations; terms 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 257-259, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 35 Contracts for supplementary state financial assistance 
§ 36 Receipt of loans and grants from federal sources or from other sources 
§ 37 Commonwealth grants; guarantee of temporary notes; sale, maintenance, and operation of relocation projects; limitations on eminent domain 
§ 38 Declaration of policy 
§ 38A Bureau of housing for the handicapped; director; functions 
§ 38B Service coordinator program 
§ 38C Program to conduct annual surveys of public housing residents 
§ 38D Regional public housing innovation program; goals; application for participation in program; funds; powers and projects 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 260, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 39 Power to provide housing for elderly and handicapped persons of low income; priorities in placement 
§ 40 Provisions applicable to housing for elderly and handicapped persons of low income 
§ 41 State financial assistance; housing for elderly persons of low income 
§ 41A State financial assistance; housing for handicapped persons of low income 
§ 42 Declaration of necessity 
§ 43 Contracts to rent, lease or provide financial assistance to housing units by housing authorities 
§ 43A Relocation of residents; leased housing units 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 261, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 44 Rentals and tenant selection 
§ 44A Leasing of housing units in MHFA projects for replacement or relocation housing authorized 
§ 45 Declaration of necessity 
§ 46 Powers of urban renewal agency 
§ 47 Acquisition by eminent domain; notice; petition 
§ 48 Public hearing; notice; urban renewal plans; approval; acquisition of property 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 262-264, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 49 Sale or lease of property acquired for urban renewal project 
§ 50 Delegation of power to municipality to plan and undertake project 
§ 51 Redevelopment authority taking over project initiated by housing authority 
§ 52 Accounts and reports of urban renewal agencies; civil service rules 
§ 53 Application for urban renewal assistance grant or urban revitalization and development grant 
§ 54 Determination of compliance and final approved cost; notice 
§ 55 Certification and payment of grants 
§ 56 Contract to provide financial assistance 
§ 57 Advance of funds; amount; payments 
§ 58 Declaration of necessity 
§ 59 Contracts for state financial assistance; rehabilitation projects 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, § 265, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

§ 60 Housing Preservation and Stabilization Trust Fund 

Amended by St.2023, c. 7, §§ 266-267, effective 30 days following enactment pursuant to subsection (c) of section 2 Article LXXXVII of the Amendments to the Constitution

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