Rhode Island General Laws Title 15. Domestic Relations § 15-18-3. Membership

(a) The commission shall consist of fifteen (15) members: three (3) of whom shall be members of the house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker; two (2) of whom shall be from the senate, not more than one from the same political party, to be appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be the chief judge of the family court, or his or her designee; one of whom shall be the chairperson of the supreme court advisory committee on women in the courts; one of whom shall be a magistrate of the family court to be appointed by the chief judge of the family court; one of whom shall be the director of the department of human services or his or her designee; two (2) of whom shall be attorneys who are members of the family court bench bar committee to be appointed by the chairperson of the committee; one of whom shall be the chief counsel of the legal aid society; one of whom shall be a member of a child support advocacy group to be appointed by the governor; and two (2) members of the general public who, at their time of appointment, are custodial parents to be appointed by the governor. Members from the family court bench bar committee, members from the general public, and the member from the child support advocacy group shall serve two (2) year terms.

(b) Any vacancy on the commission shall be filled by the appointing authority in the same manner as the original appointment.

(c) The members shall annually elect, by majority vote, one of the members as chairperson, one of the members as vice-chairperson, and one of the members as secretary.