Mass. Gen. Laws ch. 117A, § 5: Placing persons in unlicensed institutions

Section 5. No person dependent on public support shall be placed by the department or by any veteran's agent, board of health, or other public authority, in any hospital, nursing home, infirmary or institution not operated by the commonwealth which is not licensed as required by chapter one hundred and eleven. Any person violating the provisions of this section shall be punished by a fine of not less than twenty-five or more than one hundred dollars.