§ 42-167-5. Powers and duties of the secretary of housing.
(a) The secretary of housing shall have the following powers and duties:
(1) All powers and duties pursuant to § 42-167-3 and § 42-167-4;
(2) To supervise the work of the executive office of housing and to act as its chief administrative
officer;
(3) To coordinate the administration and financing of various departments or offices within
the executive office of housing;
(4) To serve as the governor's chief advisor and liaison to federal policymakers on housing,
homelessness, and community development as well as the principal point of contact
on any such related matters;
(5) To coordinate the housing, homelessness, and community development programs of the
state of Rhode Island and its departments, agencies, commissions, corporations, and
subdivisions. All departments, agencies, commissions, corporations, and subdivisions
shall cooperate with the executive office of housing to facilitate the purposes of
this chapter;
(6) To employ such personnel and contracts for such consulting services as may be required
to perform the powers and duties conferred upon the secretary of the executive office
of housing;
(7) To oversee and direct the administration of funds that may be appropriated from time
to time to the executive office of housing;
(8) Creation of a written guide for consumers relating to the rights and duties of landlords
and tenants pursuant to chapter 18 of title 34, which the secretary shall update at minimum on a biennial basis. The guide shall
be posted on the website of the executive office of housing and shall be published
in both English and Spanish; and
(9) To chair the Rhode Island housing mortgage and finance corporation; to chair the interagency
council on homelessness; and to chair the interagency council on housing production
and preservation.
(b) In addition to such other powers as may otherwise be delegated elsewhere to the executive
office of housing, the executive office of housing is hereby expressly authorized,
by and through the secretary of housing:
(1) To purchase, receive, lease, or otherwise acquire, own, hold, improve, use, and otherwise
deal in and with, real or personal property, or any interest in real or personal property,
wherever situated;
(2) To accept any gifts or grants or loans of funds or property or financial or other
aid in any form from the federal government or any agency or instrumentality of the
federal government, or from the state or any agency or instrumentality of the state,
or from any other source and to comply, subject to the provisions of this chapter,
with the terms and conditions of the gifts, grants, or loans;
(3) Subject to the provisions of § 37-2-1 et seq., to negotiate and to enter into contracts, agreements, and cooperative agreements
with agencies and political subdivisions of the state, not-for-profit corporations,
for-profit corporations, and other partnerships, associations, and persons for any
lawful purpose necessary and desirable to effectuate the purposes of the executive
office of housing; and
(4) To carry out this chapter and perform the duties of the general laws and public laws
insofar as those provisions relate to any regulatory areas within the jurisdiction
of the executive office of housing.