Municipalities consolidated or merged shall continue to be governed as before consolidation or merger until the date stipulated in the transitional plan and schedule provided for in sections 734 (relating to joint agreement of governing bodies) and 737 (relating to consolidation or merger agreement), or the transitional plan provided for by a study commission pursuant to section 735.1 (relating to initiative of electors seeking consolidation or merger with new home rule charter). Subject to the provisions of section 735.1(q), new officials required to be elected shall take office on the first Monday of January following the municipal election designated in the transitional plan and schedule. At that municipal election, the necessary officers of the consolidated or merged municipality shall be elected in accordance with the terms of the general law affecting municipalities of the kind or class of the consolidated or merged municipality or, in case of a consolidated or merged municipality operating under a home rule charter or optional plan of government, in accordance with the charter or optional plan or with general law affecting home rule or optional plan municipalities, as applicable. The officers elected at that municipal election shall be elected for terms of office under the plan and schedule set forth in the consolidation or merger agreement authorized by section 734 or 737, or the transitional plan provided for by a commission pursuant to section 735.1, as the case may be. They shall take office as officers of the consolidated or merged municipality on the first Monday of January following the municipal election at which they were elected, and upon assumption of office, the consolidated or merged municipality shall begin to function and the former municipalities consolidated or merged into it shall be abolished.

(Oct. 23, 2003, P.L.180, No.29, eff. 60 days)

Cross References. Section 738 is referred to in sections 734, 735.1, 737 of this title.