18-4-141. Contract transfers and collusion prohibited -- violations and penalty. (1) A contract or order or any interest in a contract or order may not be transferred, assigned, or subcontracted by the party to whom the contract or order is given to any other party without the express written approval of the state, and the state may declare void any unapproved transfer, assignment, or subcontract.
     (2) Collusion or secret agreements between vendors for the purpose of securing any advantage to the vendors as against the state in the awarding of contracts are prohibited. The state may declare the contract void if the department finds sufficient evidence after a contract has been let that the contract was obtained by a vendor or vendors by reason of collusive or secret agreement among the vendors to the disadvantage of the state.
     (3) All rights of action for a breach of a contract by the contracting parties are reserved to the state.
     (4) A person who violates the provisions of 2-2-201 or this section, or both, is guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be fined an amount of not less than $500 or more than $5,000, and the state of Montana may at its option declare any contract in violation of the provisions of 2-2-201 or this section, or both, void ab initio.

     History: En. Sec. 12, Ch. 66, L. 1923; re-en. Sec. 293.12, R.C.M. 1935; amd. Sec. 2, Ch. 43, L. 1973; amd. Sec. 77, Ch. 326, L. 1974; amd. Sec. 5, Ch. 97, L. 1977; R.C.M. 1947, 82-1922; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 52, L. 1983; MCA 1981, 18-4-105; redes. 18-4-141 by Code Commissioner, 1983; amd. Sec. 7, Ch. 443, L. 1997; amd. Sec. 17, Ch. 181, L. 2001.