Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-13-2. Organization and functions of the department

(1) A project management-based program manages the delivery of the department's portfolio of transportation improvement projects from project conception to the project completion. Project management activities include:

(2) Asset management is the process used for managing transportation infrastructure by improving decision making for resource allocation. Asset management activities include a systemic process based on economic, engineering, and business principles which includes the following functions:

(1) The chief of the office of internal audit, or its successor, who shall be the administrative head of the office of internal audit, or its successor, shall supervise, coordinate, and/or conduct audits, civil and administrative investigations, and inspections or oversight reviews, when necessary, relating to programs and operations listed in § 42-13-2.

(2) The office of internal audit’s (or its successor's) authorization shall include, but not be limited to, evaluating the efficiency of operations and internal controls, preventing and detecting fraud, waste, abuse or mismanagement in the expenditure of public funds, whether state, federal or those revenues collected by the use of tolls and related to any and all transportation-related programs and operations as well as the procurement of any supplies, services, or construction, by the department of transportation or related institutions of the department of transportation. Investigations may include the expenditures by nongovernmental agencies of federal, state, and local public funds. As deemed necessary or expedient by the office of internal audit, or its successor, audits may be made relative to the financial affairs or the economy and efficiency of management of the department of transportation or related institutions.