Rhode Island General Laws Title 42. State Affairs and Government § 42-45.1-5. Responsibility for administration of programs--Rules and regulations--Permission to conduct recovery operation--General Laws Title to recovered objects

(a) The state historical preservation commission shall be the agency responsible for administering the archaeology and underwater archaeology programs. The commission is empowered to prescribe such rules and regulations as may be necessary to preserve, protect, recover, and display underwater historic properties and specimens derived from archaeological sites. The rules and regulations may include, but are not limited to, the following:

(b) The rules and regulations, when approved by the governor of the state, shall be subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act, chapter 35 of this title.

(c) Any person conducting field investigations shall be responsible for obtaining permission of any federal or state agencies having jurisdiction prior to conducting any recovery operation. Title to all objects and specimens recovered from the field investigations shall be retained by the state.