General Laws of Massachusetts - Chapter 34A County Charter Procedures
- Massachusetts General Laws - Short title; definitions - Chapter 34A, Section 1
This chapter may be cited as the “County Charter Procedures Act”. As used in this chapter, the terms “board of registrars of voters”, “city council”,...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Power to adopt or revise charters - Chapter 34A, Section 2
Every county, except Barnstable county, shall have the power to adopt a charter or to revise an existing charter in accordance with procedures prescribed by...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Elections to create charter study commissions; petitions - Chapter 34A, Section 3
(A.) Whenever authorized by resolution of the county commissioners or by the advisory board on county expenditures, or on petition of the registered voters of...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Election of charter study commission members - Chapter 34A, Section 4
(A.) At the same election as the public question is submitted, fifteen members of a charter study commission shall be elected by the county’s registered...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Candidates for charter commission; nomination - Chapter 34A, Section 5
(A.) At-large candidates for the charter commission shall be registered voters of the county in which they are candidates. District candidates for the charter commission...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Members of charter commission; boundaries of election districts - Chapter 34A, Section 6
(A.) A charter commission shall consist of fifteen registered voters of such county elected by official ballot, without party or political designation, at an election...
- Massachusetts General Laws - First meeting; officers; vacancies; expenses - Chapter 34A, Section 7
The commission member who received the highest number of votes shall convene the first meeting of the charter commission as soon as possible but in...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Function of commission - Chapter 34A, Section 8
It shall be the function and duty of the charter commission to study the form of government of the county, to compare it with other...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Powers and duties of commission; funds; assistance; tax levy - Chapter 34A, Section 9
(A.) A charter commission may adopt rules governing the conduct of its meetings and proceedings and may employ such legal, research, clerical or other employees,...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Nonvoting members - Chapter 34A, Section 10
(A.) In any county in which a charter commission has been established under this chapter, the members of the advisory board on county expenditures shall...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Public hearings; reports; publication of proposed charter - Chapter 34A, Section 11
(A.) The charter commission shall hold public hearings, sponsor public forums and otherwise provide for the widest possible dissemination of information and the stimulation of...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Report and recommendation; findings and determinations - Chapter 34A, Section 12
(A.) The charter study commission may report and recommend: (i) That a referendum be held to submit to the voters of the county the question...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Optional forms of government, referendum; special charter, enabling legislation - Chapter 34A, Section 13
(A) If the charter commission shall have recommended the adoption of one of the optional forms of government authorized by this chapter, the charter commission...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Petitions for adoption or revision of charters - Chapter 34A, Section 14
(a) The charter may be revised in the same manner as provided for in its original adoption by section three. (b) A petition for the...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Application of optional plans and general laws; abolition or consolidation of agencies; intent of chapter - Chapter 34A, Section 15
(A.) Upon adoption by the registered voters of any county, except Barnstable county of any optional form of government set forth in this chapter, the...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Powers and duties of counties - Chapter 34A, Section 16
(A.) Any county that has adopted a charter pursuant to this chapter may, in accordance with the provisions of such charter, and subject to the...
- Massachusetts General Laws - County executive plan - Chapter 34A, Section 17
(A.) Form of Government. (i) The form of government provided in this section shall be known as the “county executive plan,” and shall together with...
- Massachusetts General Laws - County manager plan - Chapter 34A, Section 18
(A.) Form of Government. (i) The form of government provided in this section shall be known as the “county manager plan,” and shall, together with...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Board chairperson plan - Chapter 34A, Section 19
(A.) Form of Government. (i) The form of government provided in this article shall be known as the “board chairperson plan,” and shall, together with...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Relations between legislative and executive branches - Chapter 34A, Section 20
Relations between the Legislative and Executive Branches. A. Separation of Powers. In any county that shall have adopted a charter under this chapter, the commissioners...
- Massachusetts General Laws - Applicability - Chapter 34A, Section 21
The provisions of this act shall not apply to the county of Barnstable.
Last modified: September 11, 2015