Chapter 6C of the General Laws is hereby amended by inserting after section 6C the following section:-

Section 56A.  (a) The administrator shall, prior to a decision made by the registrar to close or move the location of a branch, site or office which serves the public, he shall notify the city or town in which the branch, site or office is located, no less than 60 days prior to said decision by certified mail return receipt requested. 

(b) Said administrator shall also hold a public hearing no less than 60 days after the proposed closing or moving of said branch, site or office.  Said hearing shall be held in the city or town in which the branch, site or office is located. The registry of motor vehicles shall notify the city or town no less than 30 days prior to said public hearing by certified mail by return receipt requested and advertise in a local newspaper the time and the location of the scheduled public hearing no less than 4 weeks prior to said public hearing.  Notification of said public hearing shall appear no less than 1 time each week for such 4 week time period.

(c) In any city or town where a branch, site or office which serves the public, which has been closed or moved prior to October 1, 2009, the registry shall hold a public hearing in such city or town.  The registry of motor vehicles shall notify the city or town no less than 30 days prior to said public hearing by certified mail by return receipt requested. The registry shall advertise in a local newspaper the time and the location of such public hearing no less than 4 weeks prior to said public hearing.  Notification of said public hearing shall appear in said local newspaper no less than 1 time each week for such 4 week time period.