Section 53. Said counsel may, from time to time, submit to the general court such proposed changes and corrections in the general statutes as they deem necessary or advisable, including recommendations for the repeal of such statutory provisions as have become obsolete or the reasons for the enactment of which have ceased to exist. Said counsel may also submit to the general court such proposed changes in the general statutes as may be recommended to them by the recodification counsel under the provisions of section fifty-five A. If, in their opinion, the necessity of enacting special bills in relation to any particular subject of legislation may, without detriment to the public interest, be avoided in whole or in part by the enactment of general legislation, they shall from time to time submit to the general court drafts of such changes in or additions to the General Laws as will accomplish said purpose. If and as directed by the committees on rules of the senate and house of representatives, acting concurrently, said counsel shall proceed to revise the General Laws, including amendments thereof, as a whole or chapter by chapter or otherwise; and in the course of such a revision said counsel may recommend the omission of redundant enactments and those which may have ceased to have any effect or influence on existing rights, the rejection of superfluous words, the condensation of all circuitous, tautological and ambiguous phraseology into as concise and comprehensive a form as is consistent with the full and clear expression of the will of the general court, the filling of omissions and the correction of any mistakes, inconsistencies and imperfections which may appear. They shall advise and assist as to the form of drafts of bills submitted to them in accordance with section thirty-three of chapter thirty.
Structure Massachusetts General Laws
Part I - Administration of the Government
Section 2 - Admission of Persons Listed to Take Seats as Representatives
Section 3 - Calling House to Order; Presiding Officer
Section 4 - Unlisted Person May Present Certificate or Evidence of Election
Section 7 - Petitions for Legislation Respecting Corporations
Section 8 - Report on Financial Condition of Town Petitioning to Borrow Outside Statutory Debt Limit
Section 8a - Petition by City or Town Pursuant to Home Rule Amendment; Number of Votes
Section 9b - Additional Regular Compensation for Certain Members
Section 9c - Annual Expenses for Members of General Court
Section 10a - Reimbursement for Special Elections to Fill General Court Vacancies
Section 12 - Clerks, Salary and Tenure
Section 12a - Facsimile Signatures of Clerks
Section 13 - Assistant Clerks and Clerical Assistance; Appointment, Salary and Tenure
Section 14 - Chaplain of House of Representatives; Salary
Section 15 - Sergeant-at-Arms; Appointment, Tenure and Salary
Section 16 - Assistant Sergeant-at-Arms; Appointment, Duties, Compensation and Removal
Section 17 - Sergeant-at-Arms and Other Legislative Officers and Employees; Duties and Police Powers
Section 18 - Other Legislative Employees; Compensation
Section 19 - Authorized Number of Certain Legislative Employees
Section 20a - Uniforms for Sergeant-at-Arms and Other Employees
Section 21 - Appointment of Employees by Sergeant-at-Arms; Removal
Section 22 - Journals and Papers; Custody; Copies as Evidence
Section 22a - Journals of Senate and House of Representatives; Copies
Section 23 - Bills and Resolves; Form of Engrossment; Printing and Publication; Copies; Distribution
Section 24 - Proposed Constitutional Amendments; Engrossment, Deposit
Section 26 - Ordering of Books or Publications for Members
Section 27 - Oaths Administered by Committee Members
Section 28 - Self-Incriminating Testimony or Evidence Before General Court or Committee; Prosecution
Section 28a - Refusal of Summoned Witness to Appear or Testify; Penalty
Section 29 - Stenographic Reports of Hearings
Section 30 - Expenses Incurred Under General Court Order; Approval
Section 31 - Committee Expenses; Authorization by General Court
Section 32 - Expenses of Committees Acting During Recess
Section 32a - Committees, Sub-Committees and Special Commissions; Travel
Section 33 - Publication of Bulletins of Committee Hearings
Section 35 - Advertisement of Legislative Committee Hearings; Publication
Section 39 - Definitions Applicable to Secs. 39 to 50
Section 45 - Inquiry and Adjudicatory Proceedings Relating to Alleged Violations of Secs. 39 to 50
Section 46 - Docket of Executive and Legislative Agents; Maintenance; Legislative Year
Section 54 - Continuous Consolidation of the General Statutes; Counsel; Assistance and Expenses
Section 55 - Continuous Consolidation of the General Statutes; Counsel; Exempt From Civil Service
Section 62 - Advisory Commission on Local Government
Section 64 - Bureaus of Post Audit and Oversight; Legislative Auditors; Quarters; Powers and Duties
Section 65 - Senate Art Committee
Section 66 - Commission on the Status of Women; Membership; Powers; Funding
Section 68 - Commission on Status of Citizens of Asian Descent; Members; Terms; Powers and Duties
Section 71 - Commission on Older Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Adults and Their Caregivers
Section 72 - Commission on the Status of African Americans
Section 73 - Commission on the Status of Latinos and Latinas
Section 74 - Commission on the Status of Persons With Disabilities