(a) The executive head of the State Department for Social Security Administration Disability Determination is designated as the director.

(b) The director shall be a resident elector of this state at least thirty (30) years of age, of good moral character, and of demonstrated ability in the field of his or her employment.

(c) The director shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor.

(d) Before entering upon his or her duties of employment, the director shall take, subscribe, and file in the office of the Secretary of State an oath or affirmation to support the United States Constitution and the Arkansas Constitution and to faithfully discharge the duties of employment upon which he or she is about to enter.

(e) The director shall furnish bond with a corporate surety thereon to the State of Arkansas in the penal sum of twenty-five thousand dollars ($25,000) conditioned upon the faithful performance of his or her duties and for the proper accounting of all funds received and disbursed by him or her. The original of the bond shall be filed in the office of the Secretary of State, and an executed counterpart of the surety bond shall be filed in the office of the Auditor of State.

(f) The director shall be disbursing agent for the department but shall not be required to furnish additional bond as the disbursing agent.

(g) Other employees of the department required by the director to do so shall furnish and file bonds, conditioned as above, or fidelity bonds with the director. These bonds shall be in such penal sums as shall be determined by the director.

(h) The premiums on all such bonds shall be paid from appropriations made available to the department.