R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-20-6

Whenever in any general law or public law or resolution of the general assembly prior to February 7, 1939, there shall have been stated a fixed amount for a salary, wage, compensation, or for personal services, or for clerical assistance, or a fixed amount for office expense, printing and binding, advertising, traveling expense, repairs and replacements, or other specified charges, it shall be hereafter construed that the designation of a specified amount is eliminated from that law and the phrase “The general assembly shall annually appropriate such sum as it may deem necessary for such purpose” shall be substituted therefor.