RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of twenty-one (21) members: three (3) of whom shall be from the house of representatives, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the speaker; one (1) of whom shall be the president of the Rhode Island Probate Judges Association, or his or her designee; one (1) of whom shall be the president of the Rhode Island Town Clerks Association, or his or her designee; three (3) of whom shall be members in good standing of the Rhode Island Bar Association with experience in probate matters, to be appointed by the speaker; three (3) of whom shall be serving probate judges, to be appointed by the speaker; two (2) of whom shall be currently serving probate clerks; one (1) of whom shall be the chairperson of the Rhode Island Bar Association Committee on Probate and Trust Law; one (1) of whom shall be the chairperson, or his or her designee, of the legislative committee of the Rhode Island Chapter of the American Association of Retired Persons; one (1) of whom shall be the chairperson, or his or her designee, of the legislative committee of Rhode Island Retired Teachers Association; one (1) of whom shall be the chairperson, or his or her designee, of the Rhode Island Council of Senior Citizens; one (1) of whom shall be the president, or his or her designee, of the Key Council of Rhode Island; and three (3) of whom shall be members of the general public who have an interest in probate matters, to be appointed by the speaker.

Each member shall serve for a term of two (2) years, and may be reappointed.

In lieu of any appointment of a member of the legislature to a permanent advisory commission, a legislative study commission, or any commission created by a general assembly resolution, the appointing authority may appoint a member of the general public to serve in lieu of a legislator, provided that the majority leader or the minority leader of the political party which is entitled to the appointment consents to the appointment of the member of the general public.

The purpose of said commission shall be to study the feasibility of modernizing probate law and procedure in Rhode Island, including but limited to the feasibility of adopting the Uniform Probate Code, and to make recommendations therefore.

Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the speaker of the house and organize and shall select from among their members a chairperson. Vacancies in said commission shall be filled in like manner as the original appointment.

The membership of said commission shall receive no compensation for their services.

All departments and agencies of the state shall furnish such advice and information, documentary and otherwise, to said commission and its agents as is deemed necessary or desirable by the commission to facilitate the purposes of this resolution.

The speaker of the house is hereby authorized and directed to provide suitable quarters for said commission and be it further

RESOLVED, That the commission shall report its findings and recommendations to the general assembly on an annual basis on or before February 10th of each year of its existence and said commission shall report its findings by November 30, 2000 and shall expire by December 31, 2000.