Rhode Island General Laws Title 37. Public Property and Works § 37-10-3. Acceptance and deposit of contributions

(a) The director of the department of environmental management shall act as an agent of the state for the purpose of receiving, by means of public subscription, gifts, and bequests, and shall deposit all money so received in any bank or banks in this state in which the funds of the state may be lawfully kept, in a special account to be known as the “eastern states' exposition fund.”

(b) When the director of the department of environmental management shall have obtained by public subscription as aforesaid the sum of at least fifty thousand dollars ($50,000), he or she shall certify that fact to the director of administration and shall deliver unto the general treasurer such money as he or she shall have received, as herein provided and as heretofore received pursuant to the provisions of chapter 2053 of the public laws of 1948.

(c) In the event that the money received by the director of the department of environmental management which, when added to the sum appropriated pursuant to § 4 of chapter 3675 of the public laws of 1956, shall be insufficient to cover the total cost of constructing, equipping, landscaping, and site improvement for the Rhode Island building at the eastern states' exposition, as indicated in a firm budget for the same to be prepared by the director of administration, the director of the department of environmental management shall continue to act for the purpose of receiving the additional money or gifts in kind as are needed to complete the same. No construction or contract for construction of the building shall be entered into until the additional money or gifts in kind have been received, credited, and delivered as aforesaid.