R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-8-20

The state department of health, with the approval of the governor, may incur all necessary expenses for preventing and restricting the prevalence of epidemic diseases and of carrying out the provisions of §§ 23-8-18 and 23-8-19, and the state controller shall draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of those expenses out of any money in the treasury not otherwise appropriated, upon receipt of itemized bills for those expenses approved by the governor.