R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-10-38: Combined service credits of general state officers.

When a person has combined and transferred service credits, earned as a member of the Rhode Island municipal retirement system, to the state retirement system, and the service amounts to not less than twenty (20) years in the aggregate as a general state officer and/or as an elected officer of a town or city, as defined in § 45-21-2, the service credits of the person may be deemed to be consecutive service to the state as provided by this chapter.