(1) The superintendents shall be appointed and, whenever the public service requires such action, may be removed, suspended or discharged, as follows:

(a) The superintendent of the Oregon State Hospital, by the Director of the Oregon Health Authority.

(b) The superintendents of Department of Corrections institutions as defined in ORS § 421.005, by the Director of the Department of Corrections.

(2) For purposes of the State Personnel Relations Law, the superintendents are assigned to the unclassified service. [1965 c.616 § 81 (enacted in lieu of 179.330); 1969 c.597 § 26; 1971 c.301 § 17; 1987 c.320 § 119; 2003 c.14 § 75; 2009 c.595 § 132; 2013 c.36 § 40; 2015 c.318 § 11]