R.I. Gen. Laws § 35-4-8: Checks for payments from treasury.

All payments from the state treasury shall be made by checks issued by the general treasurer, and each check shall bear an identification number or letter, or a combination of numbers or letters, and the general treasurer shall keep as a part of the records of his or her office the date of the issuance of each check drawn, the identification number or letter, the amount of the check, the payee to whom it is issued, and the appropriation to which the amount of the check is charged.