It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 3 of Chapter 456 of the 2000 Public Laws entitled "An Act Relating to Textbooks" is hereby amended to read as follows:

SECTION 3. Joint commission created - Duties and composition. -- (a) There is hereby created the Rhode Island Joint Commission to study the state textbook loan program.

(b) The joint commission to study the state textbook loan program shall consist of twelve (12) members. The membership of the commission shall consist of three (3) members of the house of representatives appointed by the speaker of the house; two (2) members of the senate appointed by the senate majority leader; the commissioner of elementary and secondary education or his or her designee; the president of the Rhode Island Association of School Administrators or his or her designee; the executive director of the Rhode Island Association of School Committees or his or her designee; the president of the Rhode Island Association of School Business Officials or his or her designee; the president of the Rhode Island Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development or his or her designee; the president of the Independent Schools Association of Rhode Island or his or her designee; and the Superintendent of Schools for the Diocese of Providence or his or her designee. The commission shall elect one of its members as chairperson. The duties of the joint commission shall be to study the state textbook loan program and to prepare and submit a report of its activities to the governor, the speaker of the house of representatives and the majority leader of the senate on or before January June 15, 2001 and said commission shall terminate on February September 15, 2001.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.