(As Amended by Senate Amendment Schedule"A")

"AN ACT CONCERNING THE PAYMENT OF CERTAIN COSTS FROM BOND FUNDS. "

Strike subsection (b) of section 501 and insert the following in lieu thereof:

"(b) Notwithstanding any provision of law, in the award of a contract, after the original bids have been received and an original lowest responsible qualified bid is identified, a state contracting agency shall add a per cent increase to the original bid of a nonresident bidder equal to the per cent, if any, of the preference given to such nonresident bidder in the state in which such nonresident bidder resides. If, after application of such per cent increase, the bidder that submits the lowest responsible qualified bid is a resident bidder, the state contracting agency shall award such contract to such resident bidder provided such resident bidder agrees, in writing, to meet the original lowest responsible qualified bid. Any such agreement by such resident bidder to meet the original lowest responsible qualified bid shall be made not later than seventy-two hours after such resident bidder receives notice from such state contracting agency that such resident bidder may be awarded such contract if such resident bidder agrees to meet the original lowest responsible qualified bid. "