In order to provide for the uninterrupted and orderly functioning of any agency, board, commission or department of the State Government during a vacancy in the office of the appointive or elective head thereof and whenever there is no state official, deputy, assistant or other state employee duly authorized by law to exercise the powers and perform the duties of such appointive or elective head during such vacancy, the Governor is empowered to appoint a temporary deputy commissioner to exercise the powers and perform the duties of the appointive or elective head of such office during such vacancy. The term of office of such temporary deputy commissioner so appointed shall be at the pleasure of the Governor and shall not extend beyond the date of qualification of a successor to the office of appointive or elective head of such agency, board, commission or department or 60 days from the date of his appointment, whichever shall first occur. The term of office of such a temporary deputy commissioner so appointed to an office to which appointments are by law subject to confirmation by the Legislature shall be at the pleasure of the Governor and shall not extend beyond the date of qualification of a successor appointed to such office or 6 months from the date of appointment, whichever shall first occur. Such temporary deputy commissioner shall not be eligible for reappointment. Such temporary deputy commissioner shall be appointed from the personnel of the agency, board, commission or department in which such vacancy occurs. [PL 1975, c. 771, §23 (AMD).]

During the term of such appointment, the temporary deputy commissioner shall be paid a salary to be determined by the Governor but not to exceed that received by the appointive or elective head at the termination of his services with the State Government.

In the event an employee in the classified service of the State Government is appointed as a temporary deputy commissioner he shall, during the term of his appointment as temporary deputy commissioner, retain all of the rights and all of the retirement benefits to which he may be entitled as a classified employee of the State Government.