(a)        The number of administrative law judges of the Office of Administrative Hearings shall be established by the General Assembly. For matters related to Office of Administrative Hearings staff, the Chief Administrative Law Judge shall have the same powers as those granted to the head of a principal State department in N.C. Gen. Stat. § 143B-10(c).

(a1)      The Chief Administrative Law Judge and five employees of the Office of Administrative Hearings as designated by the Chief Administrative Law Judge are exempt from provisions of the North Carolina Human Resources Act as provided by N.C. Gen. Stat. § 126-5(c1)(27). All other employees of the Office of Administrative Hearings are subject to the North Carolina Human Resources Act.

(b)        The Chief Administrative Law Judge shall appoint a Codifier of Rules to serve in the Office of Administrative Hearings. No person shall be appointed or designated the Codifier of Rules except as provided in this section. The salary of the Codifier of Rules shall be ninety percent (90%) of the salary of the Chief Administrative Law Judge. In lieu of merit and other increment raises, the Codifier of Rules shall receive longevity pay on the same basis as is provided to employees who are subject to the North Carolina Human Resources Act. ?(2006-66, s. 18.2(d); 2006-221, s. 20; 2013-382, s. 9.1(c); 2015-241, s. 30.16(b); 2021-180, s. 21.2(a); 2022-74, s. 21.1.)