Massachusetts General Laws
Chapter 34a - County Charter Procedures
Section 13 - Optional Forms of Government, Referendum; Special Charter, Enabling Legislation

Section 13. (A) If the charter commission shall have recommended the adoption of one of the optional forms of government authorized by this chapter, the charter commission shall notify the state secretary by the first Wednesday in August to place the following referendum question on the election ballot:
''Shall the (designate the caption of section ___ of the County Charter Procedures Act) be adopted for ___ county, with the provision for a board of commissioners of ___ members elected for (concurrent or non-concurrent as the case may be) terms and elected (at large, or from districts)?''
The question shall appear on the ballot at the next biennial state election. At such election, the referendum question shall appear on the ballot in the same manner as other public questions are printed on the ballot. The attorney general shall prepare the summary to accompany such question.
(B) If the charter commission shall have proposed a special charter, it shall be the duty of the commission to petition the legislature forthwith for a special law or laws, pursuant to the state constitution and in the manner provided by general enabling legislation thereunder, to carry out the recommendations of the charter commission.
Upon enactment of such enabling legislation, the special charter shall be submitted to the voters of the petitioning county for adoption in a manner provided in subsection (A), or as may otherwise be appropriate. No special charter shall become operative unless approved by a majority of all votes cast on the question.
(C) If the charter commission shall have proposed any recommendations pursuant to clause (iv) of the first paragraph of subsection (A) of section twelve, it shall be the duty of the commission to petition the legislature forthwith for a special law or laws pursuant to the state constitution and in the manner provided by general enabling legislation thereunder, to carry out such recommendations of the charter commission, provided, that upon enactment of such enabling legislation, the legislation implementing such recommendations shall be submitted to the voters of the petitioning county for adoption in a manner provided in said subsection (A) or as may otherwise be appropriate. No such legislation shall become effective until approved by a majority of all votes cast on the question of adoption.

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