R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-18-1

There shall be a department of health. The head of the department shall be the director of health, who shall carry out, except as otherwise provided by this title, the provisions of chapters 10, 19 [repealed], 27 [repealed], 29 — 31, inclusive, and 33 — 37, inclusive, of title 5; chapters 1, 11, 14, 17, 22, 23, 27, 28, and 30 of title 21; chapters 1, 3, 5, 6, 8 — 11, inclusive, 13, 17, and 20 — 22, inclusive, of title 23; and chapter 13 of title 46 and of all other general laws and public laws heretofore carried out by the former director of public health and department of public health.