R.I. Gen. Laws § 40.1-3-6
The charge for the support of the patients of the hospital as are of sufficient ability to pay for same, or have persons or kindred bound by law to maintain them, shall be paid by those patients, persons, or kindred, at a rate to be determined by the director of behavioral healthcare, developmental disabilities and hospitals. The board of the patients as have a legal settlement in some city or town shall be paid by the city or town, if those patients are received at the hospital on the request of the director of public welfare of the city or town. The director, in his or her discretion, may receive other patients who have no means to pay for treatment, and the expense for board of those patients shall be paid by the general treasurer. But no board shall be paid by the general treasurer for anyone having a legal settlement in another state. The director shall have the power to fix all charges for board of the patients, and the amount that he or she may so receive shall be paid over to the general treasurer monthly.
R.I. Gen. Laws § 40.1-3-6