SECTION 1. Section 9 of chapter 40A of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by striking the eleventh paragraph.

SECTION 2. Section 81A of chapter 41 of the General Laws, as appearing in the 2020 Official Edition, is hereby amended by inserting after the first paragraph the following paragraph:-

Zoning ordinances or by-laws may provide for associate members of a planning board. One associate member may be authorized when the planning board consists of five members, and two associate members may be authorized when the planning board consists of more than five members. A city or town which establishes the position of associate member shall determine the procedure for filling such position. If provision for filling the position of associate member has been made, in the case of absence, inability to act, conflict of interest on the part of any member of the planning board, or in the event of a vacancy on the board the chairman of the planning board may designate an associate member to sit on the board for the purposes of acting on any matter under its jurisdiction including but not limited to this chapter, chapter 40A or under its home rule powers.