R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-21-2: Delegation of transferred functions.

Wherever the duties of the head of any existing department or agency or of a subdivision thereof or of any other officer were prescribed by law and the functions of that head of a department or agency or other officer were transferred to a new department under chapter 660 of the Public Laws of 1939, the head of the department to which the function was transferred may designate some officer or other subordinate within his or her department to perform such duties.