Public advocate -- Qualifications -- Selection -- Term -- Salary -- Staff

(1) The Department of Public Advocacy shall consist of the public advocate, deputy public advocate, general counsel, assistant public advocates as the public advocate shall deem necessary, and secretarial and other personnel as the public advocate shall deem necessary. (2) (a) The public advocate shall: 1. Be appointed by the Governor from a list of three (3) attorneys submitted to him or her by the Public Advocacy Commission; 2. Be an attorney licensed to practice law in Kentucky with at least five (5) years of experience in the practice of law; 3. Be excepted from the classified service; 4. Be the chief administrator of the Department of Public Advocacy and an appointing authority as defined in KRS 18A.005; and 5. Serve a term of four (4) years, which is renewable, unless removed by the Governor. (b) The incumbent public advocate shall serve until a successor is nominated by the commission and approved by the Governor. The compensation of the public advocate shall be set by KRS 64.640. (3) The deputy public advocate shall: (a) Be an attorney; (b) Be appointed by the public advocate; and (c) Serve at the pleasure of the public advocate. (4) The general counsel shall: (a) Be an attorney; (b) Be appointed by the public advocate; (c) Serve at the pleasure of the public advocate; and (d) Represent the interests of the department as directed by the public advocate. (5) The assistant public advocates shall: (a) Be attorneys; (b) Be appointed by the public advocate; (c) Be covered by the merit system; and (d) Not be subject to KRS 12.210. (6) Secretarial, clerical, and other personnel shall be appointed by the public advocate and shall be covered by the merit system.