R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-1-23

All penalties imposed by the terms of the general corporation law for failure to comply with the requirements of that law shall be recovered in a civil action brought in the name and on behalf of the state by the attorney general; provided, however, that the attorney general may, after examination of the facts as he or she deems advisable, compromise any penalty instead of instituting an action for the penalty, and permit the payment to the general treasurer for the use of the state of a smaller sum in lieu of the maximum penalty provided by the general corporation law.