§231-83 Investigators and personnel, appointment and power. (a) The director of taxation may appoint, commission, or detail to the special enforcement section one or more persons as investigators, investigator assistants, and other support staff as the exigencies of the public service may require. Investigators may be legal or accounting professionals; provided that their primary duty is to conduct investigations pursuant to the authorities of the special enforcement section and they shall not conduct or participate in criminal investigations of the tax laws or render legal advice. Investigators may serve process and apply for and execute search warrants or writs of entry pursuant to section 231-84 but shall not otherwise have the powers of a police officer or deputy sheriff.

(b) Notwithstanding any other law to the contrary relating to employment, bargaining, labor, or compensation rights or duties, any person appointed, commissioned, or detailed to the special enforcement section:

(1) May be an employee of the department in any capacity, including exempt from or subject to chapters 76 and 89 as an employee of the department;

(2) Shall be exempt from chapters 76 and 89 for purposes of their appointment, commission, or detail capacity as investigator, whether full-time, part-time, or temporary;

(3) May be appointed, commissioned, or detailed in any capacity, and whose appointment, commission, or detail may be dismissed at the pleasure of the director of taxation;

(4) If appointed, commissioned, or detailed on a temporary basis, shall have the right to return to the person's same position or to a related position in the same class or division within the department when the person's appointment expires. The return rights provided under this section shall apply to persons exempt from or subject to chapters 76 and 89; and

(5) May be paid overtime as prescribed by an applicable collective bargaining agreement or existing policy for excluded employees. The compensation rights under this section shall apply to persons exempt from or subject to chapters 76 and 89. [L 2009, c 134, pt of §2, §13(3); am L 2013, c 58, §1]