R.I. Gen. Laws § 7-6-96

The secretary of state may propound to any domestic or foreign corporation, subject to the provisions of this chapter, and to any officer or director of the corporation, any interrogatories that are reasonably necessary and proper to enable the secretary of state to ascertain whether the corporation has complied with all the applicable provisions of this chapter. The interrogatories shall be answered within thirty (30) days after their mailing, or within any additional time that is fixed by the secretary of state. The answers to the interrogatories shall be full and complete and shall be made in writing and under oath. If the interrogatories are directed to an individual, they shall be answered by that individual and if directed to a corporation they shall be answered by the president, vice president, secretary or assistant secretary, or treasurer or assistant treasurer of the corporation. The secretary of state need not file any document to which the interrogatories relate until the interrogatories are answered as provided in this section, and not then if the interrogatory answers disclose that the document is not in conformity with the provisions of this chapter. The secretary of state shall certify to the attorney general, for any action that the attorney general deems appropriate, all interrogatories and answers to them that disclose a violation of any of the provisions of this chapter.