# Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 2: Commissioner; appointment; qualifications; appointments by commissioner; report; salary > Massachusetts · Statutes · In force URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S2 ## Section - **Citation:** Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 2 - **Heading:** Commissioner; appointment; qualifications; appointments by commissioner; report; salary - **Jurisdiction:** Massachusetts - **Kind:** Statutes - **Status:** In force - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** MA Code / Part I / Title II / Chapter 19B / Section 2 ## Text Section 2. The secretary of health and human services shall appoint, with the approval of the governor, a commissioner of developmental services who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and may be removed by the secretary at any time, subject to the approval of the governor. Such commissioner shall have such educational qualifications and such administrative and other experience, including education or experience in a field related to human services, as the secretary of health and human services determines are necessary for performance of the duties of commissioner. The commissioner shall appoint and may remove such agents and subordinate officers as the commissioner may deem necessary, and may establish such divisions or regional management systems in the department as the commissioner deems appropriate from time to time. Except as otherwise provided by law all offices and positions shall be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one; provided, however, the provisions of chapter thirty-one shall not apply to physicians and psychiatrists with full medical-psychiatric responsibility as opposed to administrative responsibility, to regional managers, if any, to nurses employed as such by the department, or to attorneys acting as legal counsel; and provided further, however, and notwithstanding the preceding provision or any other provision of law, all offices and positions, which as a condition of receiving federal grants for programs and activities to which the federal standards for a merit system of personnel administration relate and make necessary the application of the provisions of the civil service law, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one if such federal standards are uniform in all states. At the end of each fiscal year, the commissioner shall make an annual report of the activities of the department and of each facility or unit under its control, the cost of operating the same, the initiation of new programs, and the progress made in providing services and facilities for persons with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability in the commonwealth. The position of commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty. Prior to undertaking any activity or implementing any policy which would affect expenditures for medical assistance under chapter one hundred and eighteen E, involving the delivery of services reimbursable under said chapter, certification and licensure of providers of services under said chapter, or identifying individuals eligible for such assistance under said chapter, the commissioner shall assure that such activity or policy is reviewed by the commissioner of medical assistance. The commissioner shall consult with the commissioner of mental health prior to taking an action substantially affecting the design and implementation of behavioral health services for children under guidelines established by the secretary of health and human services under section 16S of chapter 6A. Section 2. The secretary of health and human services shall appoint, with the approval of the governor, a commissioner of developmental services who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and may be removed by the secretary at any time, subject to the approval of the governor. Such commissioner shall have such educational qualifications and such administrative and other experience, including education or experience in a field related to human services, as the secretary of health and human services determines are necessary for performance of the duties of commissioner. he secretary and may be removed by the secretary at any time, subject to the approval of the governor. Such commissioner shall have such educational qualifications and such administrative and other experience, including education or experience in a field related to human services, as the secretary of health and human services determines are necessary for performance of the duties of commissioner. The commissioner shall appoint and may remove such agents and subordinate officers as the commissioner may deem necessary, and may establish such divisions or regional management systems in the department as the commissioner deems appropriate from time to time. Except as otherwise provided by law all offices and positions shall be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one; provided, however, the provisions of chapter thirty-one shall not apply to physicians and psychiatrists with full medical-psychiatric responsibility as opposed to administrative responsibility, to regional managers, if any, to nurses employed as such by the department, or to attorneys acting as legal counsel; and provided further, however, and notwithstanding the preceding provision or any other provision of law, all offices and positions, which as a condition of receiving federal grants for programs and activities to which the federal standards for a merit system of personnel administration relate and make necessary the application of the provisions of the civil service law, shall be subject to the provisions of chapter thirty-one if such federal standards are uniform in all states. At the end of each fiscal year, the commissioner shall make an annual report of the activities of the department and of each facility or unit under its control, the cost of operating the same, the initiation of new programs, and the progress made in providing services and facilities for persons with an intellectual disability or a developmental disability in the commonwealth. The position of commissioner shall be classified in accordance with section forty-five of chapter thirty and the salary shall be determined in accordance with section forty-six C of said chapter thirty. Prior to undertaking any activity or implementing any policy which would affect expenditures for medical assistance under chapter one hundred and eighteen E, involving the delivery of services reimbursable under said chapter, certification and licensure of providers of services under said chapter, or identifying individuals eligible for such assistance under said chapter, the commissioner shall assure that such activity or policy is reviewed by the commissioner of medical assistance. The commissioner shall consult with the commissioner of mental health prior to taking an action substantially affecting the design and implementation of behavioral health services for children under guidelines established by the secretary of health and human services under section 16S of chapter 6A. ## Nearby sections - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 1 Creation; powers of department and commissioner](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S1.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 2 Commissioner; appointment; qualifications; appointments by commissioner; report; salary](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S2.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 3 Deputy commissioner; appointment; duties; qualifications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S3.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 4 Assistant, associate or deputy commissioners; appointment; duties; qualifications](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S4.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 5 Legal counsel](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S5.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 6 Program for training of residents in professional disciplines](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S6.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 7 State facilities under department control](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S7.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 8 Superintendents or directors; vacancies; appointments; qualifications; officers](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S8.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 10 Crimes committed by or upon persons on facility premises or persons in care of facility](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S10.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 12 Community intellectual disability services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S12.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 12A Comprehensive program of community developmental disability services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S12A.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 13 Development and maintenance of community intellectual disability services and community developmental disability services](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S13.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 14 Rules and regulations](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S14.md) - [Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 19B, sec. 15 Residential or day care services; licenses](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S15.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/STATE_MA_PI_TII_C19B_S2. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.