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. The city of Lowell, through its school department, may pay to The Judge Rotenberg Educational Center, Inc. an unpaid bill incurred by said city and totaling $120,046.29. The bill is legally unenforceable against said city by reason of the services having been provided before the execution of a written contract and in the absence of a written order, in accordance with section 7-96 of the Lowell city code, and the city solicitor has rendered an opinion that the services performed before the contract and approval could not be paid for. The services are as certified for payment by the school department of said city wherein the bill was contracted. The money so appropriated to pay such bill shall be paid by the Lowell school department from funds of the school department.

SECTION 2. No bill shall be approved by the auditor of the city of Lowell for payment or paid by the treasurer of the city of Lowell under this act until certificates have been signed and filed with said auditor, stating under the penalties of perjury that the services and supplies for which said bill has been submitted were ordered by an official or an employee or agent of said city and that such services and supplies were rendered to said city or official or agent.

SECTION 3. Any person who knowingly files a certificate required by section 2 which is false, and who thereby receives payment for services which were not rendered to the city of Lowell, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $300 or both.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.