Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

SECTION 1. Notwithstanding the provisions of any general or special law to the contrary, the Berkshire charter commission shall submit to the voters of the county the proposed charter as amended by said charter commission on July 25, 2000. Notwithstanding the provisions of section 42C of chapter 54 of the General Laws, the state secretary shall cause the question of adopting said charter, and a summary thereof prepared by the attorney general, to appear on the biennial state election ballot in November 2000 in Berkshire county. Said charter shall take effect on January 1, 2001, if approved in at least 22 Berkshire county municipalities by a majority of those residents voting in each of those municipalities or if the total population of approving municipalities represents two-thirds of the total population of Berkshire county based on the rolling three-year average of the estimated population. The council shall organize as provided by the newly approved charter.

SECTION 2. Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, the state secretary may, at his discretion, print the question regarding approval of the new charter creating the Berkshire Regional Council of Governments, which is to appear on the November 7, 2000 biennial state election ballot in Berkshire county pursuant to section 1, on a separate paper ballot for use in those municipalities where the question cannot sensibly be printed on the regular official ballot.

SECTION 3. This act shall take effect upon its passage.