§23-1-1f. Authority of Insurance Commission to exempt employees from classified service; exemption from purchasing rules.

Notwithstanding any other provision of this code, the Insurance Commissioner may:

(1) Exempt no more than 20 positions of the offices of the Insurance Commissioner from the classified service of the state, the employees of which positions shall serve at the will and pleasure of the commissioner: Provided, That such exempt positions shall be in addition to those positions in classified-exempt service under the classification plan adopted by the Division of Personnel; and

(2) Expend such sums for professional services as he or she determines are necessary to perform duties under this chapter. The provisions of §5A-3-1 et seq. of this code relating to the Purchasing Division of the Department of Administration shall not apply to these contracts, and the Insurance Commissioner shall award the contract or contracts on a competitive basis.