R.I. Gen. Laws § 22-14-4: Definitions.

For the purposes of this chapter:

(1) “Statutory entity” or “entity” means any committee, board, commission, or “subdivision of state government” created and continued in existence for the purpose of administering a statute or legislative resolution. Cities and towns and agencies and instrumentalities of cities and towns are exempted from this definition.

(2) “Termination date” means the date provided for termination of legislative authority for the existence of a particular entity or statute.

(3) “Zero-base budget review and evaluation” means, with respect to a statutory entity, a comprehensive evaluation to determine if the merits of the activities of the entity support its continuation, and a recommended budget level for the entity, based upon a justification by that entity of its budget from a zero base.