(a)(1) Membership.   The commission shall have twenty-eight (28) members as follows: the directors of the departments of administration, business regulation, healthy aging, health, human services, behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals, the chairperson of the Rhode Island housing and mortgage finance corporation, and the attorney general, shall be ex officio members; the president of the Rhode Island Bankers Association, or the designee of the president; the president of the Rhode Island Mortgage Banker’s Association, or the designee of the president; the president of the Rhode Island Realtors Association, or the designee of the president; the executive director of the Rhode Island Housing Network; the executive director of the Rhode Island Coalition for the Homeless; the president of the Rhode Island Association of Executive Directors for Housing, or the designee of the president; the executive director of operation stand down; and thirteen (13) members who have knowledge of, and have a demonstrated interest in, housing issues as they affect low- and moderate-income people, appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate: one of whom shall be the chairperson, one of whom shall be the representative of the homeless; one of whom shall be a representative of a community development corporation; one of whom shall be the representative of an agency addressing lead poisoning issues; one of whom shall be a local planner; one of whom shall be a local building official; one of whom shall be a representative of fair housing interests; one of whom shall be representative of an agency advocating the interest of racial minorities; one of whom shall be a representative of the Rhode Island Builders Association; one of whom shall be a representative of a Rhode Island city or town with a population below twenty-five thousand (25,000) people according to data from the United States Census Bureau; one of whom shall be a representative of a community development intermediary that provides financing and technical assistance to housing non-profits; one of whom shall be a nonprofit developer; and one of whom shall be a senior housing advocate.

(2)  The terms of appointed members shall be three (3) years, except for the original appointments, the term of four (4) of whom shall be one year and the term of four (4) of whom shall be two (2) years; no member may serve more than two (2) successive terms.

Terms Used In Rhode Island General Laws 42-128-6

  • Advice and consent: Under the Constitution, presidential nominations for executive and judicial posts take effect only when confirmed by the Senate, and international treaties become effective only when the Senate approves them by a two-thirds vote.
  • Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
  • Ex officio: Literally, by virtue of one's office.
  • Mortgage: The written agreement pledging property to a creditor as collateral for a loan.
  • Quorum: The number of legislators that must be present to do business.
  • town: may be construed to include city; the words "town council" include city council; the words "town clerk" include city clerk; the words "ward clerk" include clerk of election district; the words "town treasurer" include city treasurer; and the words "town sergeant" include city sergeant. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-9
  • United States: include the several states and the territories of the United States. See Rhode Island General Laws 43-3-8

(b) Officers.   The governor shall appoint the chairperson of the commission, who shall not be an ex officio member, with the advice and consent of the senate. The commission shall elect annually a vice-chairperson, who shall be empowered to preside at meetings in the absence of the chairperson, and a secretary.

(c) Expenses.   The members of the commission shall serve without compensation, but shall be reimbursed for their reasonable actual expenses necessarily incurred in the performance of their duties.

(d) Meetings.   Meetings of the commission shall be held upon the call of the chairperson, or five (5) members of the commission, or according to a schedule that may be annually established by the commission; provided, however, that the commission shall meet at least once quarterly. A majority of members of the commission, not including vacancies, shall constitute a quorum, and no vacancy in the membership of the commission shall impair the right of a quorum to exercise all the rights and perform all of the duties of the commission.

History of Section.
P.L. 1998, ch. 31, art. 29, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 30, § 1; P.L. 1999, ch. 92, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 429, § 1; P.L. 2014, ch. 465, § 1; P.L. 2022, ch. 265, § 1, effective July 2, 2022; P.L. 2022, ch. 307, § 1, effective July 6, 2022.