(a) Whenever authorized by ordinance of the governing body or upon petition of the registered voters of any municipality, an election shall be held in the municipality upon the question: “Shall a charter commission be elected to study the charter of and to consider a new charter or improvements in the present charter and to make recommendations thereon?” The petition calling for such election shall be in the form required by subsection (b) hereof and shall be signed by the following per centum of registered voters of the municipality:

25% in municipalities of 7,000 or less inhabitants;

20% in municipalities of more than 7,000 and less than 70,000 inhabitants;

10% in municipalities of 70,000 or more inhabitants.

In either event, the municipal clerk shall provide for the submission of the question and for the election of a charter commission at the next general or regular municipal election, occurring not less than 75 days after the passage of the ordinance or the filing of the petition with the clerk. At the election the question above stated shall be submitted as other public questions are submitted to the voters of a single municipality.

(b) A petition under this section shall conform to the requirements of form for petitions under sections 17-37 through 17-39 hereof (except that there shall be no reference therein to any ordinance) and shall be subject to examination, certification and amendment as therein provided.

L.1950, c. 210, p. 460, s. 1-1. Amended by L.1953, c. 254, p. 1741, s. 1; L.1954, c. 69, p. 423, s. 1, eff. June 24, 1954.