R.I. Gen. Laws § 40.1-5-4: Delegation of authority by director.

Unless otherwise herein expressly provided, whenever any duty pursuant hereto devolves upon the director of the state department of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals or the director of the state health department, he or she may, in writing, delegate the performance of the duty to a deputy or agent, and the delegated action by the deputy or agent shall be deemed to be the action of the director. However, the director shall expressly ratify the action within fourteen (14) days, and failure to so ratify the delegated action shall be deemed non-action or nonperformance of the duty of the director.