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. Notwithstanding the failure of the Ashfield Water District to comply seasonably with the provisions of sections 42G to 42K, inclusive, of chapter 40 and sections 1 and 2 of chapter 80 of the General Laws relating to the construction or extension of a water supply system in said Ashfield Water District, said district is hereby authorized and empowered to levy such betterment assessments arising from the construction of said water supply and distribution system, and the time for taking such votes, orders and acts to levy such betterments is hereby extended for a period of 12 months from the effective date of this act; provided, however, that nothing in this act shall be construed to impair or affect the rights of owners of such land as has been the subject of such betterment assessments.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon its passage.