R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-143-2: Terms of office.

The members shall be appointed for terms of four (4) years except that the initial terms shall be as follows: six (6) members originally appointed pursuant to executive order shall serve initial terms of six (6) years; one of the house and one of the senate appointees shall serve initial terms of five (5) years; the governor’s appointees shall serve initial terms of four (4) years; and the other of the house and senate appointees shall serve initial terms of three (3) years; no member shall serve for more than two (2) concurrent terms.