Notwithstanding any other provision of law, and in recognition and support of the opportunities for economic development presented through the expansion of research activities, a public institution of higher learning may establish research grant positions funded by federal grants, public charity grants, private foundation grants, research grants, medical school practice plans, individual private gifts, externally generated revenue for service or testing activities, and grant generated revenue or a combination of these, without regard to the authorized number of full-time equivalency (FTE) positions allocated to the public institution of higher learning, provided that:

(1) state appropriated funds must not be used to fund any portion of research grant positions. FTE positions funded solely or partially by state or other funding sources shall remain subject to the number of FTE positions authorized for each public institution of higher learning;

(2) research grant positions shall not occupy FTE positions;

(3) research grant positions may be established using other funds during the proposal development or pre-award stages of grant funding in anticipation of specific grant or project funding;

(4) research grant positions may be established for multiple years; however, research grant positions are limited to and may not exist beyond the duration of the funding for the project or grant or any subsequent renewal. At the discretion of the public institution of higher learning other funds may be used to fund continued employment between the expiration of one grant and the subsequent renewal of the same or similar grant or the award of an additional grant. When funding for the project or grant ends or is insufficient to continue payments under the conditions of the project or grant, research grant employees must be terminated and these positions must cease to exist. Research grant employees are exempt from the provisions of §§ 8-17-310 through 8-17-380;

(5) persons occupying research grant positions may be eligible for all benefits, not to exceed those benefits available to covered state employees, provided that funds are available within the grant or project or by use of grant-generated revenue;

(6) persons occupying research grant positions are employed at-will and do not have grievance rights afforded to covered state employees or faculty of the respective public institution of higher learning. Research grant employees are not entitled to compensation beyond the date of termination, other than for the part of the project or grant that has been performed; and

(7) discretionary determinations by a public institution of higher learning as to whether to hire an employee pursuant to this section are final and not subject to administrative or judicial appeal.