R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-17-20
The director of the department of environmental management shall, upon receipt of a mutually acceptable budget from the director of the agricultural experiment station of the university of Rhode Island, incorporate that item in his or her annual departmental budget so as to support adequately the necessary research on the Dutch elm and related wilt disease problems of trees. The research shall consist of development and perfection of agents and techniques to be used in the prevention and/or suppression of those diseases. The director of environmental management shall, and he or she is authorized to, transfer in lump sum moneys appropriated for this research program to the director of the agricultural experiment station, and those funds shall be maintained in a special fund to be used explicitly for those studies. Findings accruing from these investigations shall be made public information.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 2-17-20