RESOLVED, That a special legislative commission be and the same is hereby created consisting of eleven (11) 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; three (3) of whom shall be from the senate, not more than two (2) from the same political party, to be appointed by the senate majority leader; one (1) of whom shall be the Director of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, or designee; three (3) of whom shall be members of the public, one (1) of whom shall be from the City of Warwick, to be appointed by the Mayor of Warwick; one (1) of whom shall be from the City of Pawtucket, to be appointed by the Mayor of Pawtucket, one (1) of whom shall be from the City of Providence, to be appointed by the Mayor of Providence; and one (1) of whom shall be the general manager of the Rhode Island Public Transit Authority; or designee.

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 all aspects of commuter rail service including, but not limited to: (1) the number of Providence to Boston trips; (2) the proposed Pawtucket layover facility; and (3) the impact of high speed rail on the commuter.

Forthwith upon passage of this resolution, the members of the commission shall meet at the call of the speaker and organize and shall select from among the legislators 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 joint committee on legislative services 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 or before May 1, 2003 and said commission shall expire on July 1, 2003.