10:8 Powers of the Commission. –
I. The commission may appoint a coordinator and establish committees and subcommittees of the commission. The commission, or the coordinator subject to the direction of the commission, may hire agents and employees, without regard to any personnel or civil service law or rule of the state, prescribe their duties and qualifications, and fix and pay their compensation and expenses. Any person hired by the commission as an employee shall be a nonclassified employee of the state, an employee at will, and serve at the pleasure of the commission.
II. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the commission may:
(a) Request, accept, and expend any federal funds available to the commission to carry out the purposes of this subdivision or the duties of the commission, provided that state funds available to be expended by the commission shall not exceed $365,000 in capital and general fund appropriations.
(b) Make purchases and enter into contracts on behalf of the commission without regard to any provision of law relating to public purchases or contracts.
(c) Enter into leases or rental agreements with terms not to exceed 3 years for office space or equipment deemed necessary by the commission to carry out its duties under this subdivision.
III. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, public employees and officials, both elected or appointed, of the state and any of its political subdivisions may serve, if appointed in accordance with the provisions of this subdivision, as commission members or members of any committee or subcommittee of the commission. Any such public employee or official shall serve without compensation, except that such officials and employees may be reimbursed by the commission for such incidental expenses determined by the commission to be necessary and incurred while performing commission business.