9. The commission shall be authorized to appoint and employ and at pleasure remove an executive director, counsel, investigators, accountants, and such other persons as it may deem necessary, without regard to civil service; and to determine their duties and fix their salaries or compensation within the amounts appropriated therefor. All commission personnel shall be deemed confidential employees for purposes of the “New Jersey Employer-Employee Relations Act,” P.L.1941, c.100 (C. 34:13A-1 et seq.). Investigators and accountants appointed by the commission shall be and have all the powers of peace officers.

L.1968,c.266,s.9; amended 1999,c.88.