In establishing criteria for making awards, the board may exclude certain levels of positions from participation in the program, but in no event shall the following levels of management be eligible to receive cash awards under the program:

(1) LEVEL I: Governor’s staff, department commissioner or equivalent;
(2) LEVEL II: Assistant or deputy commissioner, assistant to commissioner, major fiscal and administrative policy departmental staff or equivalent;
(3) LEVEL III: Director or division chief, including the full line division chief to a statewide program; includes chief of division supervising several line service units or equivalent;
(4) LEVEL IV: Assistant to director or division chief, section chief or head of major departmental function or equivalent.