§96-3  Assistance, staff, delegation,
funding.  (a)  The ombudsman shall appoint a first assistant and other
officers and employees as may be necessary to carry out this chapter.  All
employees, including the first assistant, shall be hired by the ombudsman and
shall serve at the ombudsman's pleasure. 



(b)  In determining the salary of each
employee, the ombudsman shall consult with the department of human resources
development and shall follow as closely as possible the recommendations of the
department.  Effective July 1, 2007, the first assistant's salary shall be not
more than ninety-two per cent of the salary of the ombudsman.



(c)  The ombudsman and the ombudsman's
full-time staff shall be entitled to participate in any employee benefit plan.



(d)  The ombudsman may delegate to the
ombudsman's appointees any of the ombudsman's duties except those specified in
sections 96-12 and 96-13; provided that during the absence of the ombudsman
from the island of Oahu, or the ombudsman's temporary inability to exercise and
discharge the powers and duties of the ombudsman's office, the powers and
duties as contained in sections 96-12 and 96-13 shall devolve upon the first
assistant during the ombudsman's absence or inability.



(e)  The funds for the support of the office of
the ombudsman shall be provided for in the act providing for the expenses of
the legislature. [L 1967, c 306, §4; HRS §96-3; am L 1974, c 46, §3; am L 1975,
c 58, §34; am L 1982, c 129, §32(2); gen ch 1985; am L 1986, c 128, §30(2); am
L 1989, c 329, §20(2); am L 1994, c 56, §21; am L 2005, c 225, §7; am L 2007, c
63, §3]