If a municipality which has adopted a resolution of participation pursuant to section 9 of this act fails to meet the deadline for submitting its housing element to the council prior to the institution of exclusionary zoning litigation, the obligation to exhaust administrative remedies contained in subsection b. of section 16 of this act automatically expires. The obligation also expires if the council rejects the municipality’s request for substantive certification or conditions its certification upon changes which are not made within the period established in this act or within an extension of that period agreed to by the council and all litigants.

L. 1985, c. 222, s. 18, eff. July 2, 1985, operative July 2, 1985.