R.I. Gen. Laws § 28-31-12: Application to disaster response workers.

All members of disaster response forces who are killed or sustain disability or injury while in training for or on disaster response duty shall be construed to be employees of the state and compensated in like manner as state employees are compensated under the provisions of chapters 29 — 38 of this title. All claims shall be filed, prosecuted, and determined in accordance with the procedure set forth in chapters 29 — 38 of this title.