§225M-2 Office of planning and sustainable development; establishment; responsibilities. (a) There is established the office of planning and sustainable development within the department of business, economic development, and tourism for administrative purposes only. The head of the office shall be known as the director of the office of planning and sustainable development and referred to in this chapter as director. The director shall have:
The director shall be nominated by the governor and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed by the governor without regard to chapter 76, and shall be compensated at a salary level set by the governor. The director shall be included in any benefit program generally applicable to the officers and employees of the State. The director may retain staff as may be necessary for the purposes of this chapter, in conformity with chapter 76. The director shall report to the director of business, economic development, and tourism and shall not be required to report directly to any other principal executive department. The director may also employ staff without regard to chapter 76, as authorized in this chapter and as may be necessary.
(b) The office of planning and sustainable development shall gather, analyze, and provide information to the governor, the legislature, and state and county agencies to assist in the overall analysis and formulation of state policies and strategies to provide central direction and cohesion in the allocation of resources and effectuation of state activities and programs and effectively address current or emerging issues and opportunities. More specifically, the office shall engage in the following activities:
(c) The land use commission's executive officer, chief clerk, and employees shall be administratively attached to the office, and section 205-1(c) shall apply.
(d) The office of planning and sustainable development and the land use commission shall establish procedures and safeguards to avoid actual or perceived conflicts of interest that may otherwise arise as a result of any proceedings before the land use commission to which the office of planning and sustainable development is a party, including but not limited to petitions for amendments to district boundaries involving land areas greater than fifteen acres pursuant to section 205-4, and contested case proceedings pursuant to section 205-19. These procedures and safeguards shall include a reporting structure for the land use commission and its executive director and employees that is separate from the reporting structure for the land use division of the office. [L 1987, c 336, pt of §1; am L 1988, c 352, §5; am L 1990, c 160, §3; am L 1996, c 299, §1; am L 2000, c 253, §150; am L Sp 2005, c 12, §3; am L 2006, c 65, §2; am L Sp 2007, c 4, §3; am L 2014, c 83, §3; am L 2016, c 130, §3; am L 2019, c 111, §5; am L 2020, c 45, §3; am L 2021, c 152, §7, c 153, §7, and c 178, §3]