Section 9 of Chapter 70B of the General Laws, is hereby amended by adding at the end of subsection (a), the following:-

(5) the applicant shall not enter into a contract for design services unless the designer has obtained professional liability insurance covering negligent errors, omissions and acts of the designer or of an person or business entity for whose performance the designer is legally liable arising out of the performance of the contract.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Chapter 7 Section 38H paragraph (f), the total amount of such insurance shall at a minimum equal fifty per cent of the project’s estimated cost of construction, or such larger amounts as the board may require, for the applicable limitations.  A designer required by the authority to obtain all or a portion of such insurance coverage at his own expense shall furnish a certificate of certificates of insurance coverage to the applicant prior to the award of the contract.