R.I. Gen. Laws § 23-11-10: Investigation of suspected cases and sources.

In all suspected cases of sexually transmitted disease, the state department of health is empowered to take appropriate measures to determine whether the person or persons suspected of being infected are suffering from any sexually transmitted disease; and whenever any sexually transmitted disease is found to exist, the state department of health shall, whenever possible, ascertain the sources of the infections. In these investigations, the state department of health is vested with full powers of inspection and examination and treatment as determined by the director of health.