HRS §346-2
Appointment of department of human services staff
This section says the human services director hires the staff the director thinks are needed. Those hires must follow state civil service rules, or if none exist, a merit system that meets federal rules. If state and federal rules clash, federal rules win.
state agencies
The statute, as written — Appointment of personnel
The director of human services shall appoint such personnel in conformity with law as the director deems necessary. All employees of the department of human services shall be appointed subject to any civil service law relating to state employees; in the event there is no civil service law in effect, then in accordance with a merit system meeting applicable federal requirement; provided that in the event of any conflict between applicable mandatory federal requirements and any state civil service law or regulations, the former requirements shall prevail.
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