It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Section 12-15-2 of the General Laws in Chapter 12-15 entitled "Public Defender" is hereby amended to read as follows:

12-15-2. Appointment and term of defender. -- The governor, with the advice and consent of the senate, shall appoint a member of the bar of this state who has been admitted to practice law for at least five (5) years to fill the office of the public defender. The governor shall appoint a replacement in February of every third year, from the first appointment in 1959. The appointee shall hold the office until the first day of February in the third year after appointment, and The public defender shall serve a term of six (6) years and until a successor is appointed and qualified.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.