R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-11: Advisory powers of the commission.

(a) The commission is hereby empowered to issue, at the request of any person covered by the Rhode Island code of ethics in government, advisory opinions on the requirements of this chapter.

(b) Any advisory opinion rendered pursuant to this section must be approved, prior to issuance, by a majority of the members of the commission.

(c) Any advisory opinion rendered by the commission, until amended or revoked by a majority vote of the commission, shall be binding on the commission in any subsequent proceedings concerning the person who requested the opinion and who acted in reliance on it in good faith, unless material facts were omitted or misstated by the person in the request for the opinion.