74-5002a. Department of commerce, creation; secretary of commerce, appointment and compensation; officers and employees; location of offices; application of K-GOAL. (a) There is hereby created a department of commerce, the head of which shall be the secretary of commerce. The governor shall appoint the secretary of commerce, subject to confirmation by the senate as provided in K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto, and the secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. 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 department of commerce shall be administered under the direction and supervision of the secretary of commerce. The secretary of commerce shall receive an annual salary fixed by the governor.

(b) The secretary shall employ division directors and such other professional staff and employees as may be deemed necessary to effectively administer this act. The secretary may appoint one public information officer, one chief attorney, one personal secretary and one special assistant who shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive compensation fixed by the secretary and approved by the governor.

(c) The offices of the department of commerce shall be located in Topeka.

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

History: L. 1975, ch. 388, § 1; L. 1975, ch. 389, § 1; L. 1981, ch. 299, § 30; L. 1982, ch. 347, § 43; L. 1986, ch. 296, § 2; L. 1987, ch. 347, § 2; L. 1992, ch. 116, § 37; L. 2008, ch. 121, § 13; July 1.