§19-23-5. Executive director and other personnel; qualifications; terms; powers and duties; compensation and expenses.

(a) The Racing Commission shall appoint an executive director to represent the Racing Commission who shall have the powers and authority and perform such duties as the Racing Commission directs. The executive director shall preserve at the Racing Commission's principal office all books, maps, records, documents and other papers of the Racing Commission. The executive director shall, in addition to all other duties imposed upon him or her by the Racing Commission, serve in a liaison capacity between licensees and the Racing Commission. The Racing Commission may also employ, direct and define the duties of an assistant executive director and such stenographers, clerks and other office personnel as it deems necessary to carry out the duties imposed upon it under the provisions of this article.

(b) In addition to the employees referred to above, the Racing Commission shall employ, direct and define the duties of a chief clerk, director of security, director of audit, chief chemist, stewards to represent the Racing Commission, supervisors of the pari-mutuel wagering conducted under the provisions of this article, veterinarians, inspectors, accountants, guards and all other employees deemed by the Racing Commission to be essential in connection with any horse or dog race meeting. The director of audit shall be a certified public accountant or experienced public accountant.

(c) No individual shall knowingly be employed or be continued in employment by the Racing Commission in any capacity whatever:

(1) Who directly or indirectly, or in any capacity, owns or has any interest, in any manner, in any racetrack where horse or dog race meetings may be held, including, but not limited to, an interest as owner, lessor, lessee, stockholder or employee;

(2) Who at the time is or has been within one year prior, a member of the Legislature or an elective officer of this state unless he or she is experienced and qualified as a racing official; or

(3) Who has been or shall be convicted of an offense which, under the law of this state or any other state or of the United States of America, constitutes a felony or is a violation of article four, chapter sixty-one of this code. Any steward employed by the Racing Commission or by a licensee shall be a person of integrity and experienced and qualified for such position by the generally accepted practices and customs of horse or dog racing in the United States.

(d) The executive director and all other employees of the Racing Commission shall serve at the will and pleasure of the Racing Commission. The executive director and the other employees referred to in this section as employees of the Racing Commission shall receive such compensation as may be fixed by the Racing Commission within the limit of available funds and shall be reimbursed for all reasonable and necessary expenses actually incurred in the performance of their official duties.

(e) All compensation and reimbursement for expenses of the members of the Racing Commission, the executive director and all other employees of the Racing Commission shall be paid from the funds in the hands of the State Treasurer collected under the provisions of this article and shall be itemized in the budget in the same manner as all other departments of state government. No reimbursement for expenses incurred shall be paid unless an itemized account, under oath, is first filed with the State Auditor.