R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-77.2-2: Membership and annual reports.

(a) The commission shall be comprised of four (4) members:

(1) The president of the Portsmouth town council, or designee member of the Portsmouth town council;

(2) The director of the Rhode Island department of environmental management, or designee;

(3) The president of the Newport County Branch — NAACP, or designee/member; and

(4) The director of the office of veterans services, or designee.

(b) The commission shall elect a chair, vice-chair, and a secretary on a biennial basis.

(c) Commission members shall be appointed initially for three-year (3) terms and shall be subject to reappointment or replacement every three (3) years by their appointing bodies. Vacancies shall be filled by their appropriate appointing bodies as necessary in accordance with membership demographics.

(d) The commission shall meet at least two (2) times per year, maintain minutes of meetings, comply with open meetings laws and standards, and submit an annual report to the president of the senate and the speaker of the house of representatives.