(1) The state engineer shall appoint a deputy state engineer, subject to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution, whose duties are to assist the state engineer in the administration of the state engineer's office. The deputy state engineer has the power to act for the state engineer in all of the state engineer's official duties, including the administration of interstate river compacts, when the state engineer is out of the office or when the state engineer so directs the deputy state engineer.
(2) The salary of the deputy state engineer shall be paid as the salaries of the officers of the executive department of the state are paid. The deputy state engineer shall also receive reimbursement for the actual necessary expenses incurred in the performance of his or her official duties, as the state engineer shall allot from funds appropriated for that purpose. The controller is authorized to pay warrants for the deputy state engineer's salary and expenses upon vouchers approved by the state engineer.
(3) (Deleted by amendment, L. 2017.)