The Massachusetts State Senate today adopted a measure proposed by Sen. Robert L. Hedlund (R-Weymouth) that would prohibit contractors convicted of criminal actions relative to the Big Dig from benefitting from changes in state bidding laws designed to maximize the effectiveness of federal stimulus money.

The amendment prevents guilty Big Dig contractors from being pre-qualified as a construction manager or lead contractor for infrastructure projects fully or partially-funded with money the Commonwealth has received through the federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.

The ban also applies to any Big Dig contractor who may not have been convicted of a crime, but still has paid a settlement into the state’s Central Artery Statewide Road and Bridge Infrastructure Fund. The fund was established to pay for the long-term costs associated with fixing and maintaining problems with the Central Artery caused by these construction firms.

“Considering we will spend the next 30 years paying this debt back, it is more important than ever that we ensure every dollar is spent appropriately,” Sen. Hedlund said. “These Big Dig firms have already fleeced both federal and state taxpayers and shouldn’t be rewarded with another bite at the apple. There are plenty of other firms within the Commonwealth who have played by the rules and proven themselves worthy of receiving these taxpayer-funded contracts.”

Sen. Hedlund also pointed out that Massachusetts is one of several states receiving extra scrutiny from the federal government over how its funds are being spent.

The amendment was adopted as part of a bill passed by the Senate that temporary loosens state bidding and procurement laws in order to allow infrastructure projects funded with stimulus dollars to begin sooner than they traditionally would. The amendment was merged with another amendment proposed by Senate Post Audit & Oversight Committee Chairman Marc Pacheco that prohibits contractors debarred in other states from bidding on projects in Massachusetts.