* Explanations of various provisions can be opened by clicking on underlined phrases.

 

An Act expanding access to legal advice in housing proceedings. 

 

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows: 

 

Chapter 29 of the Massachusetts General Laws is amended by adding the following section:-

       

Section 2FFFFFF. ​(a) For the purposes of this section, the terms indigent person and qualified legal services program shall have the same meanings as defined in section 1 of chapter 221A. Moreover, as used in this section, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:—

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       “Authorized housing justice workers,” an individual who has been certified by the clerk of the supreme judicial court for Suffolk county to provide limited legal services related to housing to indigent persons under the supervision of a licensed attorney in a qualified legal services program.

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       “Corporation,” the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation.

       “Executive director,” the executive director of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation. 

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       “Recipient,” a qualified legal services program receiving financial assistance under this section.

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       (b) There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a separate fund known as the Housing Opportunity Provider Expansion Fund, hereinafter the HOPE Fund, to assist the commonwealth in expanding the supply of legal services for indigent persons facing legal issues related to housing. 

 

       (c) There shall be credited to the fund: (i) revenue from appropriations or other funds authorized by the general court and specifically designated for the fund; (ii) any gifts, grants, or private contributions; (iii) any interest on the fund’s assets; and (iv) other amounts credited or transferred to the fund from any other sources. Amounts credited to the fund shall be expended without further appropriation. Any balance in the fund at the close of a fiscal year shall be available for expenditure in subsequent fiscal years and shall not be transferred to any other fund or revert to the General Fund. The comptroller shall report the amount remaining in the fund at the end of each fiscal year to the house and senate committees on ways and means.

 

       (d) The fund shall be administered by the executive director. Funds shall be expended for the purpose of creating, implementing, and supporting a program of authorized housing justice workers. Activities and expenses eligible for assistance from the fund shall include, but shall not be limited to: (i) housing justice workers’ salaries and benefits; (ii) costs of training and testing individuals to be certified as housing justice workers; and (iii) administrative costs incurred by qualified legal services programs related to this initiative. 

 

       (e) Eligible grantees shall be qualified legal service programs. The executive director shall determine the recipients of the HOPE Fund and the amount of financial assistance to be provided to each by September first of each year and payment of such financial assistance shall be made by October first of each year. In their discretion, the executive director may conduct a second round of funding to the same or additional recipients, the distribution of which shall be determined by March first and the payment of which shall be made by April first of each year.

 

       (f) The corporation shall have authority to ensure the compliance of recipients and their employees with the purposes of this section and to terminate after a hearing financial support to a recipient which fails to comply. Any such action shall be in accordance with the provisions of chapter thirty A. Every recipient shall annually submit to the corporation a financial statement including an audit of monies received that is approved by a certified public accountant. ​​

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