§ 42-91-2. Membership of council.
(a) The council shall consist of twenty-one (21) members, ten (10) of whom shall be public
members, two (2) to be appointed by the governor, two (2) by the lieutenant governor,
two (2) by the speaker of the house, two (2) by the president of the senate, one by
the secretary of state, and one by the general treasurer; provided, however, that
all of the public members shall be officers, partners, or proprietors of Rhode Island
companies that are small businesses or nonprofit corporations as defined by the United
States Small Business Administration; one of whom shall be affiliated with a business-related
department of a Rhode Island institution of higher learning, to be appointed by the
lieutenant governor; one of whom shall be a member of the minority party, to be appointed
by the speaker of the house; one of whom shall be a minority party member of the senate,
to be appointed by the president of the senate; one of whom shall be the chair of
the house of representatives small business committee; one of whom shall be the chair
of the senate committee on commerce; one of whom shall be a member of the governor's
staff, to be appointed by the governor; and the secretary of the Rhode Island commerce
corporation or the secretary's permanent designee, ex officio; the director of the
department of labor and training, or the director's permanent designee, ex officio;
the secretary of state, or the secretary's permanent designee, ex officio; the general
treasurer, or the treasurer's permanent designee, ex officio; and the lieutenant governor,
ex officio. The lieutenant governor shall serve as chairperson of the council.
(b) One of the public members appointed by each of the appointing authorities shall be
appointed to serve until the first day of June, 1987, and the other to serve until
the first day of June, 1988; and all members shall serve until their successors are
appointed and qualified. In the month of May in any year in which a public member's
term of office expires, the respective appointing authorities shall appoint successors
to the members whose terms shall expire in that year, to hold office commencing on
the first day of June in the year of appointment for a term of three (3) years or
until their respective successors are appointed and qualified. Any vacancy of an appointed
member that may occur in the council shall be filled by appointment by the respective
appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term. Ex-officio members shall
serve until the end of their term of office; the member of the governor's staff shall
serve until the end of the governor's term of office.
(c) The council shall meet at the call of the lieutenant governor and shall elect from
among themselves a vice-chairperson, who shall be one of the public members, and a
secretary. The council shall meet at least quarterly during each calendar year.
(d) The membership shall receive no compensation for their services. The council may request,
through the commerce corporation, any clerical and technical assistance it may deem
necessary to accomplish its purpose.