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. Notwithstanding section 57C of chapter 59 of the General Laws or any other general or special law or rule to the contrary, for fiscal year 2003, an actual real estate tax bill issued upon the establishment of the tax rate for the fiscal year, after credit is given for any preliminary tax payments previously made, shall, in the city of Marlborough, be due and payable in 2 installments, the first installment being due and payable on February 1, 2003 or 30 days after the actual real estate bills are mailed, whichever is later, and the second installment being due and payable on May 1, 2003, after which dates, if unpaid, they shall become delinquent.

SECTION 2. If the actual real estate bills issued by the city of Marlborough in fiscal year 2003 are not mailed by January 31, 2003, then such real estate tax bills shall become subject to all of the applicable provisions of said section 57C of said chapter 59.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.