There is established within the Department of Commerce and Economic Development a Division of Development for Small Businesses and Women’s and Minority Businesses. The administrative head of the division shall be a division director, who shall be appointed by the commissioner and who shall serve at the pleasure of the commissioner during the commissioner’s term of office and until a successor is appointed and qualified. Any vacancy occurring in the office of division director shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. The position of division director shall be a full-time position and the salary shall be as provided by law. The division director may employ professional, technical, research and clerical staff as necessary within the limits of available appropriations. The provisions of Title 11 (Civil Service) of the Revised Statutes shall be construed to extend to all those personnel.

L. 1987, c. 55, s. 3.