The General Laws are hereby amended in Chapter 40B by inserting after Section 30 the following section:-

SECTION 31.  (a) As used in this section, the following words shall have the following meanings:-

“Agency”, shall mean the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, the Central Massachusetts Regional Planning Commission, the Franklin Regional Council of Governments, the Merrimack Valley Planning Commission, the Montachusett Regional Planning Commission, the Northern Middlesex Council of Governments, the Old Colony Planning Council, the Pioneer Valley Planning Commission and the Southeastern Regional Planning and Economic Development District.

(b)  Notwithstanding any general or special law to the contrary, an agency that is a member of the state retirement system pursuant to chapter 32 of the General Laws shall be deemed to be or shall continue to be a member of the state retirement system. An agency shall not be required to annually reimburse the state board of retirement for its pro rata share of any retirement allowance or pension paid by said board during the preceding calendar year which is based on whole or in part on service with such district provided that each agency contributes the required accumulated deductions and interest to the annuity savings accounts of the agency. An agency shall not be held liable for any past due contributions.