Whereas , The deferred operation of this act would tend to defeat its purpose, which is to authorize forthwith the district attorney for the eastern district to delay certain payments because of the pending fiscal crisis, therefore it is hereby declared to be an emergency law, necessary for the immediate preservation of the public convenience.

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 any general or special law or applicable personnel policy to the contrary, at the time of the termination of an employee's service with the office of the district attorney for the eastern district, by retirement or otherwise, that office may establish a schedule for the payment of any sum in excess of $15,000 that is owed to such an employee in lieu of accrued vacation time, unused sick leave or other benefit under an established and applicable personnel policy. That office may determine the time period over which such payment schedule shall apply, but that schedule shall require completion of payments not later than June 30, 2005, except that those employees whose service with the office was so terminated before January 2, 2003 shall receive ½ of any such payment owed on or before February 14, 2003 and shall receive the remaining ½ of any such payment owed on or before July 18, 2003. On or before March 1, 2003, the office shall file with the house and senate committees on ways and means a report detailing the terms of any such payment schedule as of the date of the filing of the report.

SECTION 2. This act shall not apply to the termination of service of any employee of the office of the district attorney for the eastern district who belongs to a bargaining unit for which a collective bargaining agreement is in effect at the time of the employee's termination of service. This act shall only apply to the termination of service of any employee of the office of the district attorney for the eastern district if the termination shall have occurred or occurs during fiscal year 2003.

SECTION 3. This act shall expire on June 30, 2005.