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. The city of Lowell, through its school department, may pay to Sprague Energy Corporation an unpaid bill incurred by said city in the sum of $830,000, the bill being legally unenforceable against the city. The money appropriated to pay the bill shall be paid by the Lowell school department from funds of the school department.

SECTION 2. No bill shall be approved by the auditor of the city of Lowell for payment or paid by the treasurer of the city under the authority of this act unless and until certificates have been signed and filed with the auditor, stating under the penalties of perjury that the services and supplies for which the bill has been submitted were ordered by an official or an employee or agent of the city and that such services and supplies were rendered to the city or official or agent.

SECTION 3. Any person who knowingly files a certificate required by section 2 which is false, and who thereby receives payment for services which were not rendered to the city of Lowell, shall be punished by imprisonment for not more than 1 year or by a fine of not more than $300, or both.

SECTION 4. This act shall take effect upon its passage.