Kansas Statutes Chapter 74. State Boards, Commissions and Authorities § 74-5,119. Powers, duties and functions of animal health department transferred to department of agriculture; appointment of animal health commissioner

(a) The division of animal health is hereby established within the Kansas department of agriculture. The division of animal health shall be a continuation of the Kansas animal health department and the animal health commissioner shall be a continuation of the livestock commissioner of the Kansas animal health department. The division shall be administered under the supervision of the secretary of agriculture, by the animal health commissioner, who shall be the chief administrative officer of the division. On the effective date of K.S.A. 74-5,112 through 74-5,132, and amendments thereto, the secretary of agriculture shall appoint the animal health commissioner. Thereafter, upon a vacancy in the office of animal health commissioner, the Kansas animal health board shall submit three nominations to the secretary of agriculture for the office of animal health commissioner, and the secretary of agriculture shall choose one of the three nominations to appoint as the animal health commissioner. The animal health commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary and the animal health board. The animal health commissioner shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive an annual salary fixed by the secretary of agriculture, with the approval of the governor.

(b) All of the powers, duties and functions of the existing Kansas animal health department and the existing livestock commissioner of the Kansas animal health department are hereby transferred to and imposed upon the animal health division within the Kansas department of agriculture and the animal health commissioner, respectively.

(c) The secretary of agriculture shall appoint such employees as may be needed to carry out the powers and duties of the program, and all such officers and employees shall be within the classified or unclassified service.