R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-4-5: Assignment of positions to noncompetitive branch — Transfer to competitive branch.

No class of positions shall be assigned to the noncompetitive branch unless the assignment has been recommended by the personnel administrator, the director has held a public hearing thereon, has recommended the assignment to the governor, and the governor has approved the assignment. A class of positions may be transferred from the noncompetitive branch to the competitive branch in the same manner.