§ 42-11.1-1. Policy.
Firms and organizations that do business with the state expect and deserve to be paid in a prompt and timely manner. Unjustified delays in paying vendors, construction contractors, and providers of service may discourage such firms and organizations from doing business with the state and may ultimately increase the costs to the state government of purchasing materials, equipment, and supplies; undertaking construction and reconstruction projects; and obtaining a wide variety of professional and other specialized services including those that are provided to persons in need. Consequently, this legislation sets standards for the payment of bills incurred by state agencies within specified periods of time and requires interest payments in situations where contract payments do not conform to these standards. Consistent with accepted business practices and with sound principles of fiscal management, it is the intent of this legislation to encourage state agencies in all three (3) branches of state government to make payments at least as expeditiously as they currently do and further reduce existing payment processing times whenever feasible, while at the same time permitting the state agencies to perform proper and reasonable financial oversight activities designed to ensure that the state government receives the quality of goods and services to which it is entitled to ensure that public funds are spent in a prudent and responsible manner.
History of Section.P.L. 1987, ch. 73, § 1.
Structure Rhode Island General Laws
Title 42 - State Affairs and Government
Chapter 42-11.1 - Prompt Payment by Department of Administration
Section 42-11.1-2. - Definitions.
Section 42-11.1-3. - Time period for payment.
Section 42-11.1-4. - Partial payment.
Section 42-11.1-5. - Determination of eligibility for payment of interest.
Section 42-11.1-6. - Computation of interest payment.
Section 42-11.1-7. - Determination of appropriations for interest payments.
Section 42-11.1-8. - Exclusion of interest from reimbursement rates.
Section 42-11.1-10. - Acceptance of payment.
Section 42-11.1-11. - Chapter to control — Contractual waiver void.
Section 42-11.1-12. - Judicial review.
Section 42-11.1-13. - Court actions or other legal processes.
Section 42-11.1-14. - Inapplicability of chapter.
Section 42-11.1-15. - Quarterly reports of late payments and interest.
Section 42-11.1-16. - Partial payment — Certificate of continuance.