§ 1 Establishment
§ 2 Services enumerated
§ 3 Functions of department; area-based service programs
§ 4 Payment for services
§ 5 Federal requirements; additional services; inspection of records
§ 6 Commissioner; appointment; qualifications; salary
§ 6A Foster care review unit; director
§ 7 Commissioner; powers and duties
§ 8 Deputy commissioner; appointment; qualifications; duties; salary
§ 9 Assistant commissioners; appointment; qualifications; salary
§ 10 Legal counsel; staff personnel
§ 11 Regional offices; directors
§ 12 Area directors; appointment; qualifications; duties; plans; budgets; social worker qualifications
§ 13 Area boards; members; appointment; terms
§ 14 Area boards; selection committee; lists of prospective members; approval; appointment
§ 15 Area boards; powers and duties
§ 16 Statewide advisory council
§ 17 Centers for children and families
§ 18 Trust funds; investment deposits; expenditures
§ 19 Unclaimed money of former wards; annual pay over to state treasurer; disposition
§ 20 Funds; advancement and disbursement; reports
§ 21 Adoption subsidy program
§ 22 Adoption and medical assistance for interstate children; interstate compacts
§ 23 Residential care of children; annual report
§ 24 High-risk children; racial disproportion; procurement of services; children transitioning out of system; semi-annual report
§ 25 Multiple 51A reports; quarterly report

Terms Used In Massachusetts General Laws > Chapter 18B - Department of Social Services

  • Appeal: A request made after a trial, asking another court (usually the court of appeals) to decide whether the trial was conducted properly. To make such a request is "to appeal" or "to take an appeal." One who appeals is called the appellant.
  • Appropriation: The provision of funds, through an annual appropriations act or a permanent law, for federal agencies to make payments out of the Treasury for specified purposes. The formal federal spending process consists of two sequential steps: authorization
  • Assets: (1) The property comprising the estate of a deceased person, or (2) the property in a trust account.
  • Equitable: Pertaining to civil suits in "equity" rather than in "law." In English legal history, the courts of "law" could order the payment of damages and could afford no other remedy. See damages. A separate court of "equity" could order someone to do something or to cease to do something. See, e.g., injunction. In American jurisprudence, the federal courts have both legal and equitable power, but the distinction is still an important one. For example, a trial by jury is normally available in "law" cases but not in "equity" cases. Source: U.S. Courts
  • Fiscal year: The fiscal year is the accounting period for the government. For the federal government, this begins on October 1 and ends on September 30. The fiscal year is designated by the calendar year in which it ends; for example, fiscal year 2006 begins on October 1, 2005 and ends on September 30, 2006.
  • Guardian: A person legally empowered and charged with the duty of taking care of and managing the property of another person who because of age, intellect, or health, is incapable of managing his (her) own affairs.
  • Joint committee: Committees including membership from both houses of teh legislature. Joint committees are usually established with narrow jurisdictions and normally lack authority to report legislation.
  • Probate: Proving a will
  • Public law: A public bill or joint resolution that has passed both chambers and been enacted into law. Public laws have general applicability nationwide.
  • Remainder: An interest in property that takes effect in the future at a specified time or after the occurrence of some event, such as the death of a life tenant.