SECTION 1. Chapter 71 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2004 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking Section 14 and inserting in place thereof the following section:

Section 14. Any town, by either a majority vote of its selectmen or by vote in town meeting duly called therefore, may create a special unpaid committee to be known as a regional school district planning committee, to consist of three members, including one member of the school committee, to be appointed by the moderator; and may at the same meeting or at a subsequent meeting appropriate for the expense of said committee such sum or sums, not exceeding one tenth of one percent of the assessed valuation of such town in the preceding year, as it may deem necessary.  Regional school district planning committee from any two or more towns may join together to form a regional school district planning board or boards.  Such regional school district planning board shall organize forthwith upon its formation by the election of a chairman and secretary-treasurer.