18. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of N.J.S. 18A:13-8 or any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the boards of education proposing to form a newly created regional district may by resolution frame and adopt a proposal to calculate and apportion the membership of the board of education of the newly created regional district according to the number of each constituent districts’ inhabitants, except that each constituent district shall have at least one member. The calculation and method of apportionment chosen pursuant to the provisions of this subsection need not be approved by the commissioner or his representative. If the commissioner or his representative determines that it is advisable for such districts to form a newly created regional district, and the question of whether or not the proposal to create a regional district is submitted to the voters pursuant to N.J.S.18A:13-34, and the proposal is adopted by the voters pursuant to N.J.S.18A:13-35, then the members of the board of education of the newly formed regional district shall be selected from among the members of the boards of education of each constituent district of the newly created regional district, who shall serve until the election of the first elected members of the newly created regional district pursuant to the provisions of subsection b. of this section, in accordance with the proposal to calculate and apportion the membership of the board of education adopted pursuant to this subsection.

b. Notwithstanding any law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, the first elected members of the board of education of a newly created regional district shall be elected in accordance with the proposal to calculate and apportion the membership of the board of education adopted pursuant to subsection a. of this section at the annual election to be held in the calendar year first succeeding the year in which the election for the creation of the district was held.

L.2021, c.402, s.18.