§ 17-9.1-31. Voter registration advisory board. (a) The state board of elections shall establish a voter registration advisory board, subsequently referred to as the advisory board, to assist in the drafting of regulations and the monitoring of implementation of the National Voter Registration Act of 1993, 42 U.S.C. § 1973gg et seq., and to help recruit and train the volunteer registrars. The advisory board shall issue an annual report to the state board, governor, and general assembly on its activities.

(b) The advisory board shall consist of eighteen (18) members. The governor shall appoint one member from the League of Women Voters, one member of the Urban League, one member of Common Cause, one member of Ocean State Action, one member of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, one member of the R.I. Black Caucus of State Legislators, and one representative of a state employees' union. The speaker of the house shall appoint two (2) members, not more than one from the majority party. The president of the senate shall appoint two (2) members, not more than one from the majority party. In addition, the following shall be members: the secretary of state or her or his designee; the directors or their designees of the division of motor vehicles, the department of human services, the department of health, and the department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals; and the chairpersons or their designees of the governor's commission on disabilities and the governor's commission on Hispanic affairs. The members shall annually elect a chairperson and other officers as are necessary.

(c) Of the number of members originally appointed under this section, one-third (1/3) shall be appointed for a term of one year to be chosen by lot; one-third (1/3) shall be appointed for a term of two (2) years, to be chosen by lot; and one-third (1/3) shall be appointed for a term of three (3) years, to be chosen by lot. Thereafter, vacancies created by expiration of terms shall be filled with appointments for terms of three (3) years. Members whose terms expire may be reappointed to succeed themselves. The members of the advisory board shall receive no compensation for their services, but may, at the discretion of the governor, be reimbursed for traveling and other expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties.

History of Section. (P.L. 1994, ch. 171, § 4; P.L. 1997, ch. 150, § 2; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 19; P.L. 2013, ch. 501, § 94.)