HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 691        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 937

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

_________________

PRESENTED BY:

Denise Provost

_________________

To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act relative to the award of attorney’s fees, staff time, costs and expenses in code enforcement matters.

_______________

PETITION OF:

 

Name:

District/Address:

Date Added:

Denise Provost

27th Middlesex

1/17/2017

José F. Tosado

9th Hampden

 

James B. Eldridge

Middlesex and Worcester

1/26/2017

Joseph W. McGonagle, Jr.

28th Middlesex

 

Marjorie C. Decker

25th Middlesex

 

John J. Lawn, Jr.

10th Middlesex

 

Mike Connolly

26th Middlesex

 

Barbara A. L'Italien

Second Essex and Middlesex

 

Paul R. Heroux

2nd Bristol

 

Michael O. Moore

Second Worcester

 

David M. Rogers

24th Middlesex

 


HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 691        FILED ON: 1/17/2017

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 937

By Ms. Provost of Somerville, a petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 937) of Denise Provost and others relative to the awarding of attorney’s fees, staff time, costs and expenses in code enforcement matters.  The Judiciary.

 

[SIMILAR MATTER FILED IN PREVIOUS SESSION
SEE HOUSE, NO. 1551 OF 2015-2016.]

 

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

 

_______________

In the One Hundred and Ninetieth General Court
(2017-2018)

_______________

 

An Act relative to the award of attorney’s fees, staff time, costs and expenses in code enforcement matters.

 

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

Section 1.Chapter 40 of the General Laws, appearing in the 2010 Official Edition, is hereby amended by adding after section 60A the following new section:-

Section 61.  Any governmental unit or entity, including but not limited to a city, town, state agency or department, specially created governmental entity, district, governmental or municipal body politic and corporate, or the like, either directly or acting through any of its officers, agents, officials, departments, commissions, agencies or the like,  may, in any action filed in any court or agency seeking enforcement of any laws, rules or regulations within its jurisdiction, petition the court or agency for an award of attorney’s fees, reimbursement for staff time, costs and other expenses related to the enforcement action and said sums may be so awarded either as part of any general or specific relief granted or specifically for said purpose.