R.I. Gen. Laws § 27-25-41: Payment of benefits other than insurance benefits.

(a) A society may pay benefits, other than insurance benefits, to its members from any special account or fund maintained for that purpose; provided, that if the benefits are of a nature that they could constitute benefits within the class of insurance set forth in this chapter, a society making the payments may not:

(1) Make any separate charge for the payments;

(2) Issue any certificate, policy, or other document promising the payments;

(3) Provide in its constitution, laws, or any other document that the payments may be received by the member as a matter of right; or

(4) Advertise the payments as insurance or as payments to which the member has any right.

(b) The society shall maintain a separate accounting of all disbursements made under this section and report them in its annual statement.