Rhode Island General Laws Title 28. Labor and Labor Relations § 28-42-33. Modifications to protect fund

(a) Whenever the director believes that a change in contribution and/or benefit rates will become necessary to protect the solvency of the fund, he or she shall at once inform the governor and the general assembly and make recommendations accordingly. In that case, the governor may declare an emergency and authorize the director to announce a modified scale of benefits, an increased waiting period, or other changes in rules and regulations regarding eligibility for payment of benefits that the director may deem necessary to assure the solvency of the fund. Those modified regulations are to be in effect until the governor declares the emergency at an end, or until further action is taken by the general assembly.

(b) The governor may also request Title XII advances from the federal unemployment account to the account of the State of Rhode Island in the unemployment trust fund in accordance with the provisions of Section 1201 of the Social Security Act [ 42 U.S.C. § 1321]. The governor may delegate authority to request funds in this manner to the director, who may request advances in payment as he or she deems necessary, provided that upon making such a request, the director shall notify the governor, the speaker of the house, the senate president, the chair of the house finance committee, and the chair of the senate finance committee of the action taken.