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. Subsection (b) of section 4-2 of article 4 of section 1 of chapter 163 of the acts of 1988 is hereby amended by striking out paragraph 2 and inserting in place thereof the following paragraph:-

2. REGISTER OF DEEDS There shall be a register of deeds elected as provided by section 157 of chapter 54 of the General Laws. The register of deeds shall have general charge and superintendence of the Barnstable county registry of deeds and all of the books, records, deeds and other papers belonging thereto. The register of deeds shall have all of the powers and duties which are given to registers of deeds by the General Laws and such other powers and duties as may be provided by county ordinance or administrative code.

SECTION 2. Section 10-5 of article 10 of said section 1 of said chapter 163 is hereby amended by striking out subsection (d) (e) and inserting in place thereof the following subsection:-

(e) Notwithstanding article 4, the office of county treasurer shall not be filled by appointment until the expiration of the term of office to be filled by another election for such office next following the adoption of this charter; but if following such election a vacancy shall occur in said office for any reason, said article 4 with respect to said office shall forthwith take effect.

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