SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws is hereby amended by striking out section 61 and inserting in place thereof the following section:  Section 61. (a) The school committees of two or more towns and/or regional school districts with the approval of the commissioner may form a superintendency union. Said school committees shall employ a union superintendent pursuant to the provisions of section 63 of this chapter and shall employ such other personnel as are deemed necessary to consolidate administrative functions pursuant to the provisions of section 53A of this chapter. (b) The commissioner may require the school committees of two or more towns and/or regional school districts to form a superintendency union when in his judgment such action would consolidate administrative functions and serve to increase the effectiveness and efficiency of educational programs.  (c) A superintendency union shall not be dissolved except by vote of the school committees representing a majority of the participating towns and districts and with the consent of the commissioner. (d) The board of education shall promulgate such regulations as it deems necessary to carry out the purposes of this section.

      SECTION 2. Sections sixty-two and sixty-four of said chapter seventy-one are hereby repealed.

      SECTION 3. This act and any regulations promulgated pursuant thereto shall apply to all superintendency unions established prior to the effective date of this act.