Scope and Content: The lieutenant governor of Massachusetts, in the event of absence, disability, or death of the governor, performs all duties incumbent upon the chief executive, and has all of the constitutional powers vested in that office. Additionally, the lieutenant governor is a voting member of the Council and is delegated other responsibilities at the governor’s discretion (Const Pt 2, C 2, S 2).  Series is created by the lieutenant governor’s legal unit to develop policies and deal with issues such as transitions of power, conflicts of interest, passage of legislation, court cases, legal agreements, and legal advice to state agencies.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by term, thereunder by subject
Restrictions: Kerry files—resumes restricted: personal information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A (included with: Administrative files ((M-Ar)506), box 11). For conditions of access consult repository
Notes: Box 1: O’Neill, 1978-1982.  Boxes 2-3: Kerry, 1983-1984
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Scope and Content: Under successive authorizations, the Committee for the Sale of Eastern Lands (1783-1801) and the Land Office were the primary agencies with responsibility for the management and sale of public lands in Maine on behalf of the Commonwealth.  In meeting this responsibility, the agencies had to enter into and become party to a variety of legal arrangements.  Typically these arrangements involved land transactions and/or development.  This file comprises a variety of legal documents, including copies, reflecting the land management activities of the agencies.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
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Scope and Content: The director of campaign and political finance administers through this office the laws of the Commonwealth regulating political campaigns.  Legal opinion records document the office’s role in the process to develop, request, respond to, or present opinions on legal matters directly relating to agency programs or functions. In fact it consists primarily of advisory opinions in response to requests from individuals and a variety of corporate entities regarding various political campaign activities.  Each advisory opinion file includes original request and completed opinion, and may also contain drafts, legislative background materials, legal counsel opinions, notes, and related correspondence.
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year, thereunder by opinion number
Notes: Box 1: 1976-1981–miscellaneous correspondence; 1982-1990: requests and competed replies only.  Box 2: 1991–full files for each request; also working papers. Box 3: 1992; also working papers. Box 4: 1993. Box 5: 1994. Boxes 6-7: 1995; instructional files
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Scope and Content: The State Ethics Commission, formed in 1978 to interpret and enforce conflict of interest and financial disclosure laws for government employees in Massachusetts, may, on written request from a person subject to MGLA c 268A-B, render advisory opinions on the applicability of these laws (MGLA c 268B, s 3(g)). Such an opinion shall be a defense in any criminal action brought under these chapters and shall be binding on the commission in any subsequent related proceedings. The commission also reviews opinions of corporation counsel, city solicitor, or town counsel on questions relating to municipal employees under MGLA c 268A (see s 22), per the commission’s municipal advisory opinion regulation
Arrangement: Arranged in four subseries:(1) Formal opinions(2) Informal opinions (3) Municipal opinions (4) Telephone logs; Arranged within each subseries by case number/chronologically
Restrictions: Legal opinions are considered confidential when requested, although resulting opinions may be published by the commission with all identifying information removed. Municipal opinions are similarly treated
Notes: Boxes 1-27 Formals; 28-29 EC-FD formals; 30-89 Informals; 90-98 Municipals; 99-100 Telephone logs
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Scope and Content: The Division of Public Employee Retirement Administration was established within the Executive Office of Administration and Finance as of 1983 and reorganized as the Public Employee Retirement Adminstration Commission in 1996.

Arrangement: Arranged chronologically by year, thereunder alphabetically by retirement board (i.e., usually locality)

Restriction: Personal information restricted by statutory provision; for conditions of access consult repository; MGLA c 4, s 7, cl 26(c) and c 66A.

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Scope and Content: The special commission investigating the selection of an official state song was appointed in 1958 and reconstituted in 1961 and 1964.  Headed by Arthur Fiedler of the Boston Pops Orchestra, it ultimately recommended “All hail to Massachusetts,” by Arthur J. Marsh, adopted as the state song by St 1966, c 644.  Legal records document the transfer of copyright from the Marsh estate to the Commonwealth.
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Scope and Content: The Governor’s Legal Office advises the governor on all matters of legal concern.  In fulfilling this function it researches and drafts legislation.  Legal research/issues files are created to determine the need for new legislation or policy development.
Arrangement: In four subseries: (1) Legislation (2) Legal research (3) Crime (4) General; Arranged chronologically by term(s), thereunder by subject. Arranged within each subseries by subject
Restrictions: Evaluative, investigative, or personal information restricted by statutory provision MGLA c 4, s 7, d 26(c) and c 66A. For conditions of access consult repository
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Scope and Content: The Division of Public Employee Retirement Administration was established within the Executive Office of Administration and Finance as of 1983 and reorganized as the Public Employee Retirement Adminstration Commission in 1996.

Arrangement: Arranged chronologically

Restrictions: Personal information restricted by statutory provision; for conditions of access consult repository; MGLA c 4, s 7, cl 26(c) and c 66A

Notes: Box 1: 1983-1996.  Box 2: 1997-1999.  Box 3: 2000-2003.  Box 4: 2004-2005. Box 5: 2006. Box 6: 2007-2009.

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Scope and Content: Massachusetts has administered water works and sewage disposal for the Boston metropolitan area successively through the Board of Metropolitan Sewerage Commissioners (Metropolitan Sewerage Commission) (1889-1901) and the Metropolitan Water Board (1895-1901); the Metropolitan Water and Sewerage Board (1901-1919); and the Water and Sewerage Divisions of the Metropolitan District Commission (1919-1985).  Since 1985, the sewerage works functions have been assigned to the Massachusetts Water Resources Authority (MWRA), and the water works functions have been shared by the MWRA (distribution) and the Metropolitan District Commission (to 2003) and the Dept.  of Conservation and Recreation (since 2003) (water supply reservoirs and their watershed management).
Arrangement: Arranged chronologically
Notes: Transferred to Archives from Metropolitan District Commission
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Scope and Content: Since 1971 the Executive Office of Human Services (Executive Office of Health and Human Services since 1992) has been responsible through its constitutent agencies for the delivery of a wide range of services to persons with financial, health, social, protective, rehabilitation, and correctional needs. Its role is one of management and fiscal oversight, coordination of interagency planning and program development, and policy analysis.  Series was created to allow the office’s legislative director to coordinate interagency review of proposed legislation pertinent to the office’s mission (see: Legislative review files, 1975-1989 ((M-Ar)1832)).
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