R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-8-13: Annual school lunch appropriations.

The general assembly shall annually appropriate some sum that it may deem necessary to carry out the purposes of §§ 16-8-7 to 16-8-12; and the state controller is authorized and directed to draw his or her orders upon the general treasurer for the payment of that sum or so much of it as may be required from time to time, upon receipt by the controller of vouchers approved by the department of elementary and secondary education.