It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Chapter 45-25 of the General Laws entitled "City Housing Authorities" is hereby amended by adding thereto the following section:

45-25-10.4. City of East Providence housing authority. -- Notwithstanding the provisions of section 45-25-10, commencing September 1, 2000, the housing authority of the city of East Providence is expanded in size from five (5) members to seven (7) members. The two (2) additional members shall be residents of public housing facilities in the city of East Providence. Each shall be appointed for a three (3) year term by the mayor who shall make the appointments from a list of persons submitted to the mayor by the executive director of the housing authority. Said list shall contain no fewer than eight (8) nominees, with no fewer than two (2) nominees to be from any one public housing authority site. If fewer than eight (8) nominees wish to be considered for appointment, the mayor may select only one from residents of public housing facilities. Such list shall be submitted to the mayor for appointment every three (3) years, and the residents appointed as housing authority commissioners shall serve a term of three (3) years, provided that no such commissioner shall serve more than three (3) consecutive three (3) year terms. The method of selection of the residents to the list shall be determined by the mayor. If any such resident commissioner shall no longer live in public housing, their office shall be deemed vacated.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.