SECTION 1.   Chapter 90 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2000 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting at the end thereof the following:

All gas gate boxes that are buried underground on private property or located under a sidewalk, street, road or in any other manner not immediately or easily accessible to gas company employees or emergency public safety personnel shall be replaced by a gas gate box that is easily and immediately accessible. If a gas gate box is not immediately and easily accessible, it must be made so by excavating it if necessary and marking it with a clear and functioning entrance door adequate to allow a gas utility employee or emergency public safety employee access to the gas shutoff control.  Only gas company authorized employees and emergency public safety personnel shall have the means to shut off and turn on the gas service via a gas gate box. Any gas company that must excavate or use other means to relocate or make it accessible a gas shutoff may apply for funds under this chapter to pay for said excavation or relocation work. Any chapter 90 funded construction contract to repair streets; roads and sidewalks must include the maintenance and improvement of all gas gate boxes.