R.I. Gen. Laws § 22-3-2
At the time specified in § 22-3-17, the senate shall be called to order by the senior member in continuous service present from Newport, and if there are two (2) or more members from Newport of equal seniority of service, then by that one of them that shall be senior in age, and if there is no member present from Newport, by the senior member of the senate in continuous service present, and, if there are two (2) or more members of equal seniority of service, then by that one of them who is senior in age. The roll of members as appears by the list of senators shall then be called by the clerk, and the list shall be corrected by the secretary of state as provided in § 22-3-1. If nineteen (19) of the members whose names appear upon the lists are present, but not otherwise, the member calling the senate to order as provided above shall call for nominations for the office of president of the senate, and shall receive the ballots of the members whose names are on the list for that office, and after the ballots have been counted by him or her and by the clerks of the senate, he or she shall declare the result, and the balloting shall continue until some person receives a majority of all the ballots, and the person receiving that majority shall be the president of the senate for the ensuing term of two (2) years. The member so calling the senate to order shall not receive, entertain, or put to vote any motion or question whatever, or point of order, while acting as presiding officer, and any member violating any of the foregoing provisions of this section, or allowing any person whose name is not upon the list to participate in the organization of the senate or to cast any ballot for president of the senate, or who shall allow to be used in the organization of the senate any list of members not prepared and corrected as provided in this chapter, shall be imprisoned not less than one year nor more than three (3) years; and any clerk or other person who shall use this list in the organization of the senate, or who shall fraudulently alter, secrete, or destroy any list of members, prepared or prepared and corrected, as provided above, shall be punished by like imprisonment. Immediately upon the election of a president, the senate shall proceed to elect by ballot a secretary of the senate and reading clerk, and shall immediately notify the house of representatives that it is duly organized and ready to proceed with the business of the session. The secretary and clerk shall be employees of the legislative department under the jurisdiction and control of the senate, and shall hold office for two (2) years, and until their successors are elected and qualified.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 22-3-2