R.I. Gen. Laws § 4-17-5: Administration — Rules and regulations — Manual use of hammer, sledge, or poleax declared inhumane.

The director shall administer the provisions of this chapter. He or she shall promulgate and may from time to time revise rules and regulations which conform substantially to the rules and regulations promulgated by the secretary of agriculture of the United States pursuant to the Federal Humane Slaughter Act of 1958, 7 U.S.C. § 1901 et seq. The use of a manually operated hammer, sledge or poleax is declared to be an inhumane method of slaughter within the meaning of this chapter.