SECTION 31. Foreign organizations or persons; service of process

Any charitable organization or professional fund-raising counsel, commercial co-venturer or professional solicitor having its principal place of business without the commonwealth or organized under and by virtue of the laws of a foreign state which solicits contributions from people in the commonwealth, subject to sections nineteen to thirty-five, inclusive, shall be subject to the provisions of said sections, and shall be deemed to have irrevocably appointed the state secretary as its agent upon whom may be served any summons, subpoena duces tecum or other process directed to such charitable organization or any partner, principal officer or director thereof, professional fund-raising counsel, commercial co-venturer or professional solicitor in any action or proceeding brought under the provisions of said sections. Service of such process upon the state secretary shall be made by personally delivering to and leaving with him a copy thereof at the office of said secretary in Boston and such service shall be sufficient service; provided notice of such service and a copy of such process shall be forthwith sent by said secretary to such charitable organization or professional fund-raising counsel, commercial co-venturer or professional solicitor by registered mail, with return receipt requested at its or his office as set forth in the registration form required to be filed in the division pursuant to sections nineteen and twenty-four, or in default of the filing of such form, at the last address known to said secretary.