A.  Each office within the Department of Environmental Quality, except the executive office of the secretary and the office of management and finance, shall be under the immediate supervision and direction of an assistant secretary who shall be appointed by the governor with consent of the Senate.  Each shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and shall be paid a salary which shall be fixed by the governor, which salary shall not exceed the amount approved for such position by the legislature while in session.

B.  Except as otherwise expressly provided in this Title, the duties and functions of each office and its assistant secretary shall be determined by the secretary.  The secretary  may delegate to the assistant secretaries any authority, powers, duties, and exercise of discretion granted to the secretary or the department by Title 30, Subtitle II, and all of such duties and functions shall be exercised under the direct supervision and control of the secretary.

C.  Except as otherwise provided in La. Rev. Stat. 36:801, each assistant secretary shall employ, appoint, remove, assign, and promote such personnel as is necessary for the efficient administration of his office and its programs and the performance of its powers, duties, functions, and responsibilities, in accordance with applicable civil service laws, rules, and regulations, and with policies and rules of the department, all subject to budgetary control and applicable laws.

D.  Each assistant secretary shall exercise all powers and authority granted to him in this Title subject to the overall direction and control of the secretary.

Added by Acts 1983, No. 97, §2, eff. Feb. 1, 1984; Acts 1999, No. 303, §2, eff. June 14, 1999.