By Mr. Kujawski of Webster, petition (accompanied by bill, House, No. 3215) of Paul Kujawski for legislation to require certification of the authority of public officials to bind cities and towns by contract. State Administration and Regulatory Oversight.      

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PETITION OF:

Paul Kujawski

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In the Year Two Thousand and Seven.

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An Act to require certification of the authority of public officials to bind cities and towns by contract.

    Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

   SECTION 1: Section thirty-one C of chapter forty-four of the General Laws is hereby amended by adding thereto the following sentence:— “The certificate of the city solicitor or town counsel or other officer of the city or town having similar duties, that the official signing such contract or any amendment thereto is authorized to do so and that any such document, when signed by such official, is legally sufficient to bind such city or town shall bar any defense by the city or town on the grounds of lack of authority by such official.”

   SECTION 2: This amendment shall apply to all contracts awarded to all amendments or modifications to existing contracts executed after its effective date.