R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-8-3
In pursuance of article III of the compact, § 20-8-1, there shall be three (3) members, hereinafter called "commissioners", of the Atlantic States Marine Fisheries Commission, "the commission", from the state of Rhode Island. The first commissioner shall be the director of environmental management, ex officio, and the term of that ex officio commissioner shall terminate when he or she ceases to hold the office of director of environmental management. That person's successor as commissioner shall be his or her successor as director of environmental management. The second commissioner shall be a legislator and who may be a member of the commission on interstate cooperation, ex officio, designated by vote of the commission on interstate cooperation, and the term of that ex officio commissioner shall be for three (3) years and terminate when he or she ceases to hold legislative office or office as a commissioner on interstate co-operation, and his or her successor as commissioner shall be named in like manner. In the event that the commission on interstate cooperation shall have failed to have met and designated a commissioner, the position of commissioner shall alternate every three (3) years between a member of the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker, and a member of the senate appointed by the president of the senate, to a term of three (3) years which shall commence on July 1, and no commissioner appointed by the speaker or the senate president shall serve more than three (3) successive years. The appointments provided for herein shall commence on July 1, 2004, and the first appointment shall be made by the speaker of the house of representatives.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 20-8-3