SECTION 1.  Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary and pursuant to the provisions of article 97 of the amendments to the Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, the department of fish and game may take pursuant to chapter 79 of the General Laws or otherwise acquire, and the Town of Dalton may convey to the department, for the preservation and protection of fish and wildlife habitat, passive recreation and other purposes consistent therewith, for consideration of one hundred thousand dollars, a certain parcel of land in the town of Dalton known as the Dalton town forest described in a deed to the town of Dalton dated February 9, 1927 and recorded in in the Berkshire middle district registry of deeds in book 433, page 169.

SECTION 2. The department of fish and game shall submit an appraisal of the property described in section 1 to the inspector general for the inspector general’s review and comment. The inspector general shall prepare a report containing a review of the methodology used for the appraisal and shall file the report with the commissioner of fish and game, the house and senate committees on ways and means, and the house and senate committees on bonding, capital expenditures, and state assets.

SECTION 3. Costs and expenses associated with the transaction authorized in this act shall be apportioned as agreed to by the town of Dalton and the department of fish and game.                

SECTION 4. This Act shall take effect upon passage.