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

(b)  In determining the salary of eachemployee, the ombudsman shall consult with the department of human resourcesdevelopment and shall follow as closely as possible the recommendations of thedepartment.  Effective July 1, 2007, the first assistant's salary shall be notmore than ninety-two per cent of the salary of the ombudsman.

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

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

(e)  The funds for the support of the office ofthe ombudsman shall be provided for in the act providing for the expenses ofthe 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); amL 1989, c 329, §20(2); am L 1994, c 56, §21; am L 2005, c 225, §7; am L 2007, c63, §3]