Section 16.77 - Audit of bills; illegal contracts; actions to recover(1) No bill or statement for work or labor performed under purchase orders or contracts issued by the secretary or the secretary's designated agents, and no bill or statement for supplies, materials, equipment or contractual services purchased for and delivered to any agency may be paid until the bill or statement is approved through a preaudit or postaudit process determined by the secretary. This subsection does not apply to purchases made directly by the courts, the legislature or a legislative service or judicial branch agency under s. 16.74.(2) Whenever any officer or any subordinate of an officer contracts for the purchase of supplies, material, equipment or contractual services contrary to ss. 16.705 to 16.82 or the rules promulgated pursuant thereto, the contract is void, and any such officer or subordinate is liable for the cost thereof, and if such supply, material, equipment or contractual services so unlawfully purchased have been paid for out of public moneys, the amount thereof may be recovered in the name of the state in an action filed by the attorney general against the officer or subordinate and his or her bonders. Such cause of action is deemed to have arisen in Dane County, and summons shall be served therein as in civil actions.1979 c. 221; 1981 c. 20 s. 2202 (1) (c); 1985 a. 29; 1985 a. 332 s. 251 (5); 1987 a. 119; 1991 a. 39.