§ 144. Opening and reading of bids for contracts for public work;
criminal conspiracies. 1. Notwithstanding any inconsistent provisions of
any general or special law, contracts for public work in excess of five
thousand dollars shall be awarded by any board, officer, agency,
department or commission of the state only after advertisement for bids
shall contain a statement of the time and place where all bids received
in pursuance of such notice will be publicly opened and read and,
pursuant to such notice, all bids received shall be publicly opened and
read at the time and place so specified.

2. A person or corporation who conspires to prevent competitive
bidding on a contract for public work or purchase advertised for bidding
shall be guilty of a misdemeanor as provided in section one hundred
three-e of the general municipal law.