[ Text of section effective until March 10, 2008. For text effective March 10, 2008, see below.]
Section 6. The council shall, upon its formation, and whenever a vacancy may occur, by a two-thirds vote of all its voting members appoint a chancellor of the system of public higher education, hereinafter called the chancellor, and may in its discretion by a majority vote of all its members remove him. He shall be the secretary to the council and its chief executive officer and the chief school officer for higher education. The chancellor shall be responsible for carrying out the policies established by the council.
The council shall be provided with adequate offices and shall, subject to appropriation, appoint such other employees as it deems necessary to carry out its duties and responsibilities under the provisions of this chapter. The council shall also, subject to appropriation, establish a schedule of salaries for said chancellor and said other employees. Such salaries as so established by the council shall be in accordance with a classification and pay plan adopted by the council pursuant to a professional study of the job responsibilities of and appropriate salaries for the offices and positions held by said chancellor and said other employees. Such salaries shall be compensation in full for all services rendered to the council, except as otherwise expressly provided for by any general or special law; provided, however, that the chancellor shall receive, subject to appropriation, in addition to said salary such expenses as are approved by the council which are incurred by him in the discharge of his duties and which have been approved by majority vote of the house and senate committees on ways and means.
The council may delegate its authority or any portion thereof to the chancellor whenever in its judgment such delegation may be necessary or desirable. The chancellor shall exercise any such powers or duties delegated with the full authority of the council in any matter concerning the system of public institutions of higher education subject to the direction and approval of the council.
Chapter 15A: Section 6. Department of higher education; Commissioner; other employees; appointments; salaries; powers and duties
[ Text of section as amended by 2008, 27, Sec. 24 effective March 10, 2008. See 2008, 27, Sec. 117. For text effective until March 10, 2008, see above.]
Section 6. DEPARTMENT OF HIGHER EDUCATION; COMMISIONER; OTHER EMPLOYEES; APPOINTMENT; SALARIES; POWERS AND DUTIES
There shall be within the executive office of education a department of higher education, in this chapter called the department.
The council shall, whenever a vacancy may occur, by a two-thirds vote of all its voting members, submit to the secretary, for the secretary's approval, a recommended candidate to serve as the commissioner of higher education, in this chapter called the commissioner. The secretary may appoint the recommended candidate as commissioner. If the secretary declines to appoint the candidate, the council shall submit a new candidate for consideration. The secretary may appoint the commissioner only from candidates submitted to the secretary by the council.
The commissioner shall be the executive and administrative head of the department. The commissioner shall serve at the pleasure of the council and may be removed by a majority vote of all its members. The commissioner shall not be subject to chapter 31 or to section 9A of chapter 30.
The commissioner shall be the secretary to the council and its chief executive officer and the chief school officer for higher education. The commissioner shall be responsible for carrying out the policies established by the council. The council may delegate its authority or any portion thereof to the commissioner whenever in its judgment such delegation may be necessary or desirable. The commissioner shall exercise any such powers or duties delegated with the full authority of the council in any matter concerning the system of public institutions of higher education subject to the direction and approval of the council.
The commissioner shall devote her full time during business hours to the duties of her office and shall, subject to appropriation, receive such salary as the council may determine. The commissioner may, subject to appropriation, appoint such other employees as she deems necessary to carry out her duties and responsibilities, shall be provided with adequate offices, and may expend sums for other necessary expenses of the department.