Rhode Island General Laws Title 36. Public Officers and Employees § 36-4-8. Rules--Amendments

(a) The personnel administrator shall recommend such rules as he or she may consider necessary, appropriate, or desirable to carry out the provisions of this chapter and chapter 3 of this title and may from time to time recommend amendments thereto. When the rules or amendments are recommended by the personnel administrator, the director shall hold a public hearing thereon, and shall have power to approve or reject the recommendations of the personnel administrator wholly or in part or to modify them and approve them as so modified. The director shall give notice of the hearing at least fourteen (14) calendar days prior to the date of the hearing. Rules or amendments thereto which are approved by the director, shall be submitted to the governor, who shall have power to approve them, with or without modification or to reject them. The rules or amendments thereto shall become effective when approved by the governor. Rules adopted under this section shall have the force and effect of law.

(b) Rules promulgated pursuant to this section shall not change conditions of employment in a unit covered by a collective bargaining agreement.