Section 50-7-605 - Personnel(a)(1) Subject to this chapter, the commissioner is authorized to appoint, fix the compensation and prescribe the duties and powers of officers, accountants, attorneys, experts and other persons necessary in the performance of the commissioner's duties.(2) All positions except those provided for in § 50-7-714 shall be filled by persons selected and appointed on a nonpartisan merit basis.(3) The commissioner shall provide for the holding of examinations to determine the qualifications of applicants for the positions so classified, and, except for temporary appointments not to exceed six (6) months in duration, shall appoint the personnel on the basis of efficiency and fitness as determined in the examinations.(4) The commissioner shall not appoint or employ any person who is an officer or committee member of any political party organization or who holds, or is a candidate for, any elective public office.(5) The commissioner may delegate to any person so appointed the power and authority the commissioner deems reasonable and proper for the effective administration of this chapter, and may, in the commissioner's discretion, require bond of any person handling moneys or signing checks or warrants under this chapter, and the premiums on the bond shall be paid from the administrative fund.(b) The provisions of this section as to the holding of examinations and the making of appointments on the basis of the examinations shall be inoperative so long as the state has in effect a civil service system applicable to the department of labor and workforce development.Acts 1947, ch. 29, § 11; C. Supp. 1950, § 6901.11 (Williams, § 6901.35); T.C.A. (orig. ed.), § 50-1336; Acts 1983, ch. 371, § 1; 1999, ch. 520, § 41.