§ 23-18.3-1. Establishment - Purpose - Membership - Compensation. (a) There is created a permanent advisory commission to study the location, condition, and inventory of historical cemeteries in Rhode Island and to make recommendations relative to historical cemeteries in Rhode Island.

(b) The commission shall consist of eighteen (18) members, all of whom shall be citizens and residents of this state. One shall be the director of veterans' cemeteries or his or her designee. One shall be the executive director of the historical preservation and heritage commission or his or her designee. One shall be the director of the Rhode Island Historical Society or his or her designee. One shall be a representative of the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns to be appointed by the governor, who shall serve for one year.

One shall be the state registrar of vital records, or his or her designee. The governor, in consultation with and upon the recommendation of local historical or preservation societies within each county, shall appoint thirteen (13) members of the general public consisting of two (2) representatives from Kent County, two (2) representatives from Bristol County, two (2) representatives from Newport County, three (3) representatives from Washington County, and four (4) representatives from Providence County.

(c) Beginning on September 1, 2011, one representative from Bristol County, one representative from Newport County, one representative from Washington County, and one representative from Providence County shall be appointed to serve one year terms to expire August 31, 2012, one representative from Kent County, one representative from Washington County, and two (2) representatives from Providence County shall be appointed to serve two (2) year terms to expire August 31, 2013, and one representative from Bristol County, one representative from Kent County, one representative from Newport County, one representative from Washington County, and one representative from Providence County shall be appointed to serve three (3) year terms to expire August 31, 2014. Thereafter, each county representative shall be appointed for a three (3) year term. County representatives shall serve until their successors are appointed. Vacancies shall be filled by the authority making the original appointment.

(d) The members shall annually elect a chairperson, a vice chairperson, and a secretary of the commission. The secretary need not be a member of the commission.

(e) Members of the commission shall serve without compensation.

History of Section. (P.L. 1991, ch. 386, § 1; P.L. 2001, ch. 180, § 47; P.L. 2006, ch. 29, § 2; P.L. 2011, ch. 117, § 2; P.L. 2011, ch. 126, § 2.)