(a) There is hereby established within and as a part of the department of labor a division of workers compensation. The division shall be administered, under the supervision of the secretary of labor, by the director of workers compensation, who shall be the chief administrative officer of the division. The director of workers compensation shall be appointed by the secretary of labor and shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary. The director shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act and shall receive an annual salary fixed by the secretary of labor, with the approval of the governor. The director of workers compensation shall be an attorney admitted to practice law in the state of Kansas. The director shall devote full time to the duties of such office and shall not engage in the private practice of law during the director’s term of office.

(b) The director of workers compensation may appoint two assistant directors of workers compensation. The secretary of labor may appoint not to exceed 10 administrative law judges. Such assistant directors shall be in the classified service. Such administrative law judges shall be in the unclassified service under the Kansas civil service act unless an administrative law judge elects to stay in the classified service under subsection (g) of Kan. Stat. Ann. § 44-551, and amendments thereto. The assistant directors shall act for and exercise the powers of the director of workers compensation to the extent authority to do so is delegated by the director. The assistant directors and administrative law judges shall be attorneys admitted to practice law in the state of Kansas, and shall have such powers, duties and functions as are assigned to them by the director or are prescribed by law. The assistant directors and administrative law judges shall devote full time to the duties of their offices and shall not engage in the private practice of law during their terms of office.

(c) Assistant directors shall be selected by the director of workers compensation, with the approval of the secretary of labor. Except as otherwise provided under Kan. Stat. Ann. § 44-551, and amendments thereto, on and after July 1, 2013, administrative law judges shall be selected by the workers compensation and employment security boards nominating committee and appointed by the secretary of labor. Each assistant director and administrative law judge shall be subject to either dismissal or suspension of up to 30 days for any of the following:

(1) Failure to conduct oneself in a manner appropriate to the appointee’s professional capacity;

(2) failure to perform duties as required by the workers compensation act; or

(3) any reason set out for dismissal or suspension in the Kansas civil service act or rules and regulations adopted pursuant thereto.

No appointee shall be appointed, dismissed or suspended for political, religious or racial reasons or by reason of the appointee’s sex.