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

45-25-10.5. City of Woonsocket housing authority. -- Notwithstanding the provisions of section 45-25-10, commencing January 1, 2002 the housing authority of the city of Woonsocket is expanded in size from five (5) members to seven (7) members. The two (2) additional members shall be residents of public housing facilities and/or recipients of the authority's section 8 tenant based program in the city of Woonsocket. Each shall be appointed for a four (4) year term by the mayor, who shall make the appointments from a list of interested residents of the public housing facilities and/or recipients of the authority's section 8 tenant based program in the city of Woonsocket as submitted by the executive director. The method of selection of the residents to the list shall be determined by the mayor. If any resident commissioner no longer lives in public housing and/or is no longer a recipient of the authority's section 8 tenant based program in the city of Woonsocket, his or her office shall be deemed vacated.

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.