R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-13-3

Any city or town may annually appropriate a sum to be expended for the promotion of the welfare and hygiene of maternity and infancy in that city or town, under the supervision of and in cooperation with the state department of health, and that city or town may provide that any appropriation may be expended by the state department of health or under the joint supervision of the department and an officer or agent appointed by that city or town to co-operate with the department in carrying out the purposes of the appropriation.