Chapter 221A

Section 1. As used in this chapter, the following words and terms shall have the following meanings:— ''Board'', the board of directors of the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation. ''Corporation'', the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation. ''Eligible client'', any ind…

Section 10. The corporation shall annually submit a complete and detailed report of its activities within ninety days after the end of the fiscal year to the clerk of the house of representatives, to the clerk of the senate, and to the governor. The annual report shall include, b…

Section 11. The books and records of the corporation shall be subject to an audit by the state auditor, in accordance with generally accepted government auditing standards, once every 3 years and as often as the state auditor determines is necessary.

Section 12. There shall be established and set up on the books of the commonwealth a fund, as defined in section one. The corporation shall establish procedures for the application by qualified legal services programs for financial assistance from funds received or from other sou…

Section 2. There is hereby created a body politic and corporate to be known as the Massachusetts Legal Assistance Corporation for the purpose of providing financial support for legal assistance programs that provide representation to persons financially unable to afford such assi…

Section 3. The corporation shall be governed and its corporate powers exercised by a board of directors consisting of eleven persons, one of whom shall be the chief justice of the trial court, or his or her designee, and ten of whom shall be appointed by the justices of the supre…

Section 4. The board shall hire an executive director and establish his salary. The executive director shall be the chief administrative and operational officer of the corporation. The executive director shall attend meetings of the board and may, subject to the approval of the b…

Section 5. The directors shall annually elect one of their members as vice chairman and shall designate a secretary and treasurer who need not be members of the board. The secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the corporation and shall be custodian of all books, doc…

Section 6. The corporation shall have the following powers: (a) to make, amend, and repeal by-laws, rules and regulations, for the management of its affairs; (b) to adopt an official seal; (c) to sue and be sued, in its own name, subject to the provisions of section eight; (d) to…

Section 7. The corporation shall have authority to insure the compliance of recipients and their employees with the provisions of this chapter and the rules, regulations, and guidelines promulgated pursuant to this chapter, and to terminate after a hearing financial support to a …

Section 8. The corporation shall not itself participate in litigation unless the corporation or a recipient of the corporation is a party, or a recipient is representing an eligible client in litigation in which the interpretation of this chapter or a regulation promulgated under…

Section 9. The corporation shall, subject to appropriation or to the amount of monies available from the fund, or from funds made available from any other public or private source, provide financial assistance to both local and statewide programs. In each fiscal year at least eig…