Section 5. All valid liabilities and debts of an abolished county which are in force immediately before the transfer date shall be obligations of the commonwealth as of the transfer date, except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter. All assets, including revenue received pursuant to chapter 64D and such other revenue said county receives as of immediately before the transfer date shall become assets and revenue of the commonwealth, except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
All valid liabilities and debts of the Suffolk and Berkshire counties' registries of deeds which are in force immediately before July 1, 1999 shall be obligations of the commonwealth on July 1, 1999 except as may be otherwise provided in this chapter. All assets of said registries, including revenue received pursuant to paragraph (2) of section 12 of chapter 64D, and such other revenues received as of immediately before July 1, 1999, shall become assets and revenues of the commonwealth except as otherwise provided in this chapter.
The registries of deeds in Berkshire county shall, until the transfer date of Berkshire county pursuant to section 1, forward to the county commissioners in Berkshire county the deeds revenues that are necessary for the continued operation of Berkshire county government as certified by the county government finance review board; provided, however, that the secretary of administration and finance shall first certify that the commonwealth shall collect and retain sufficient revenue during fiscal year 2000 to fully fund the operations of said registries of deeds.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Title VI - Counties and County Officers
Chapter 34b - Abolition of County Government
Section 1 - Transfer Date for Abolished Counties
Section 2 - Governments of Abolished Counties
Section 3 - County Commissioners; Terms
Section 5 - Liabilities, Debts and Assets of Abolished Counties
Section 6 - Real and Personal Property of Abolished Counties
Section 7 - Leases and Contracts of Abolished Counties
Section 9 - Treasurers of Abolished Counties
Section 11 - Rights of Employees of Registries of Deeds
Section 12 - Sheriffs of Abolished Counties
Section 13 - Employees of Sheriffs of Abolished Counties
Section 15 - Statutory Rights of Employees of Abolished Counties
Section 16 - Group Insurance Coverage for Employees
Section 17 - Education Aid for Independent Agricultural and Technical Schools
Section 18 - Retirement Systems
Section 19 - Regional Retirement Systems; Boards; Members
Section 20 - Cities and Towns; Regional Charter Commissions; Regional Councils of Government
Section 22 - Municipalities of Abolished Counties; Dog Funds