Kansas water office established; appointment, compensation and civil service status of director; powers and duties of director; application of K-GOAL

(a) There is hereby established within the executive branch of government the Kansas water office, which shall be administered under the direction and supervision of the director of the Kansas water office. The director of the Kansas water office shall be appointed by the governor, subject to confirmation by the senate as provided in K.S.A. 75-4315b, and amendments thereto. Except as provided by K.S.A. 46-2601, and amendments thereto, no person appointed as director shall exercise any power, duty or function as director until confirmed by the senate. Except as otherwise provided by this section, the director of the Kansas water office shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act, shall serve at the pleasure of the governor and shall receive an annual salary fixed by the governor. (b) All budgeting, purchasing and related management functions of the Kansas water office shall be administered under the direction and supervision of the director of the Kansas water office. (c) All vouchers for expenditures from appropriations to or for the Kansas water office shall be approved by the director of the Kansas water office or a person or persons designated by the director for such purpose. (d) The provisions of the Kansas governmental operations accountability law apply to the Kansas water office, and the office is subject to audit, review and evaluation under such law.