32-801. Establishment of department of wildlife and parks; secretary; application of K-GOAL to the department. (a) In order to reorganize the administration, planning and regulation of the state's parks, wildlife and other natural resources, there is hereby established within the executive branch of government the Kansas department of wildlife and parks, which shall be administered under the direction and supervision of a secretary of wildlife and parks who shall be appointed by the governor, with the consent of 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 secretary shall exercise any power, duty or function as secretary until confirmed by the senate.

(b) The secretary shall be fully qualified by education, training and experience in wildlife, parks or natural resources, or a related field, and shall have a demonstrated executive and administrative ability to discharge the duties of the office of secretary. The secretary shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The secretary shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive an annual salary to be fixed by the governor.

(c) The provisions of the Kansas governmental operations accountability law apply to the Kansas department of wildlife and parks, and the department is subject to audit, review and evaluation under such law.

History: L. 1987, ch. 417, § 1; L. 1989, ch. 118, § 4; L. 1992, ch. 116, § 26; L. 2001, ch. 86, § 4; L. 2008, ch. 121, § 3; L. 2012, ch. 47, § 21; L. 2023, ch. 7, § 24; July 1.