Massachusetts § 51A - Definitions
Full text of Massachusetts Massachusetts General Laws § 51A — Definitions, with citation guidance and answers to common questions.
§ 51A. Definitions
Section 51A. The following words as used in this and the following sections and in the classification and compensation plans shall have the following meanings:—
''Board'', the county personnel board;
''Class'' or ''title'', a group of positions forming part of the classified service established by sections forty-eight to fifty-five, inclusive, and sufficiently similar in respect to duties and responsibilities that the same descriptive title may be used to designate all positions allocated to the class, the same general entrance qualifications may be required of incumbents of positions in the class, the same general tests of fitness may be used to choose qualified employees and the same schedule of pay may be made to apply under the same or substantially the same employment conditions;
''Class allocation'', the official initial placing of a class in a job group in the salary schedule;
''Class reallocation'', the official subsequent placing of a class in a job group in the salary schedule;
''Employee'', employee or officer, unless the latter is otherwise specifically exempted;
''Increment'', the amount of dollars between any two consecutive steps-in-range in the same job group in the salary schedule;
''Job group'', a unit of the salary schedule which includes all classes in the position classification plan which are sufficiently comparable in value as regards duties and responsibilities, irrespective of the field of work of which they form a part, so that the same salary range may be made to apply to all classes in the same unit of the salary schedule;
''Position'', a job which may be held by an individual employee. There may be more than one position in the same class;
''Position allocation'', the initial official placing of a position in a class forming part of the position classification plan;
''Position classification plan'', the plan resulting from position allocations pertaining to the personal services of the counties;
''Position reallocation'', any subsequent official placing of a position in a class forming part of the position classification plan;
''Salary range'', a range of salaries from a specified minimum to a specified maximum amount as applied to a job group;
''Specification'', a description of the characteristic duties and requirements of a single class;
''Step-in-range'' or ''increment step'', one of the divisions of a salary range in a job group at which an employee is compensated.
Frequently Asked Questions About Massachusetts § 51A
What does Massachusetts General Laws § 51A cover?
Section 51A ("Definitions") is part of the Massachusetts General Laws, the codified statutory law of Massachusetts. It sets out the legal rule or procedure described in the text above. Statutes are amended regularly, so always verify against the official source.
How do I cite Massachusetts § 51A?
A common citation format is "Massachusetts General Laws § 51A" (Massachusetts). Legal writing may require the code abbreviation, section number, and year or edition. Match the style required by your court, professor, or publisher.
Is this the official text of Massachusetts law?
No. This page is for research and education and may not include the most recent amendments. For official current law, check the Massachusetts official source linked on this page or consult a licensed Massachusetts attorney.
How does Massachusetts § 51A apply to my situation?
Statutes are interpreted in context, and application depends on your specific facts. Only a licensed attorney in Massachusetts can advise on how this section applies to you. Contact your state or local bar association for a referral.
Sources & Verification
Not legal advice. Verify against the official source and consult a licensed attorney in Massachusetts.