74-560. Kansas department of agriculture; creation; appointment of secretary of agriculture; annual public informational meeting; application of K-GOAL. (a) On and after the effective date of this act, in order to reorganize the administration, planning and regulation of the state's agriculture industry there is hereby established within the executive branch of government the Kansas department of agriculture, which shall be administered under the direction and supervision of a secretary of agriculture.

(b) The secretary shall be appointed by the governor. The secretary shall have a demonstrated executive and administrative ability to discharge the duties of the office of secretary. Every appointed secretary of agriculture shall be appointed subject to confirmation by the senate as provided in K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto. Except as provided by K.S.A. 46-2601, and amendments thereto, no person appointed as secretary shall exercise any power, duty or function as secretary until confirmed by the senate. The secretary shall be a member of the governor's cabinet. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The secretary shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the governor.

(c) The secretary shall organize an annual public informational meeting. The meeting shall take place in each congressional district on a rotating basis.

(d) The provisions of the Kansas governmental operations accountability law apply to the Kansas department of agriculture, and the department is subject to audit, review and evaluation under such law.

History: L. 1995, ch. 236, § 1; L. 2001, ch. 86, § 5; L. 2004, ch. 147, § 15; L. 2008, ch. 121, § 10; July 1.