Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-156-2. Declaration of purpose

(1) Exploits vulnerable workers and deprives them of legal benefits and protections;

(2) Gives unlawful businesses an unfair competitive advantage over lawful businesses by illegally driving down violators' taxes, wages, and other overhead costs;

(3) Defrauds the government of substantial tax revenues; and

(4) Harms consumers who suffer at the hands of unlicensed businesses that fail to maintain minimum levels of skills and knowledge.

The creation of a task force has proven to be an effective mechanism for enhancing interagency cooperation and information sharing.