32-802. Assistant secretaries; employees; offices; supervision of the wildtrust program. (a) The secretary of wildlife and parks shall appoint an assistant secretary for administration and an assistant secretary for operations. The assistant secretary for administration shall be fully qualified by education, training and experience in administration. The assistant secretary for operations shall be fully qualified by education, training and experience in wildlife, natural resources or a related field. All assistant secretaries shall have a demonstrated executive and administrative ability to discharge the duties of the office of assistant secretary. The assistant secretaries shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The assistant secretaries shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive an annual salary fixed by the secretary with the approval of the governor. The secretary also may appoint such other staff assistants and employees as are necessary to enable the secretary to carry out the duties of the office. Except as otherwise provided in this section, K.S.A. 75-2935 and 32-801, and amendments thereto, such staff assistants and employees shall be within the classified service under the Kansas civil service act.

(b) The assistant secretaries and such other staff assistants and employees shall have such powers, duties and functions as are assigned to them by the secretary or are prescribed by law. The assistant secretaries, staff assistants and employees shall act for and exercise the powers of the secretary to the extent authority to do so is delegated by the secretary.

(c) The assistant secretary for administration shall maintain an office in Shawnee county, Kansas. The assistant secretary for operations shall maintain an office in Pratt county, Kansas. The secretary may maintain offices and facilities to carry out the functions of the department in other locations in this state.

(d) The secretary shall supervise the wildtrust program which shall be responsible for the receipt and expenditure of moneys through gifts and donations.

History: L. 1987, ch. 417, § 2; L. 1989, ch. 118, § 5; L. 2012, ch. 47, § 22; L. 2023, ch. 7, § 25; July 1.