2005 Rhode Island Code - § 23-4-6 — State medical examiners commission.

    (a) There is established the state medical examiners commission. The commission shall hear and determine appeals to decisions by chief medical examiners regarding the undertaking of investigations, inquests, and autopsies, and shall advise the chief medical examiner on matters of public concern.

   (b) The commission shall consist of fourteen (14) members, ten (10) of whom shall be ex officio members, viz., the director of health, the attorney general, the superintendent of state police, the president of the Rhode Island Medical Society, the president of the Rhode Island Society of Pathologists, the president of the Rhode Island Bar Association, the vice president of the Brown University Division of Biological and Medical Sciences, the president of the Rhode Island Funeral Directors Association, the chair of the Rhode Island house of representatives H.E.W. committee, the chair of the Rhode Island senate H.E.W. committee, or the designee of each of the previously mentioned members, and four (4) citizens of the state to be appointed by the governor for the term of three (3) years. Each citizen member shall hold office for the term of his or her appointment and until his or her successor is appointed. Vacancies for citizen members shall be filled by appointment for the unexpired term only. Any citizen member of the commission may be removed from office by the governor for cause, upon notice and opportunity to be heard.

   (c) The director of health and the attorney general shall be the chairperson and vice chairperson, respectively, of the commission. The chief medical examiner of the office of state medical examiners shall serve as the executive secretary of the commission, and the expenses of the commission shall be a responsibility of the department of health. The commission shall meet at the call of its chairperson and at least four (4) times each year, the time and the place for each meeting to be fixed by the chairperson.