(a) The commissioner shall appoint, after consultation with the state advisory council, and may remove in a like manner, two deputy commissioners who shall be in the unclassified service. The deputy commissioner for program services shall be a clinically competent professional person experienced in one or more fields of children's services and in the administration of such services, and shall be responsible for the supervision of all clinical treatment and program services of the department. The deputy commissioner of administrative services shall have experience in business or institutional administration and shall be responsible for the organizational and general administrative services of the department.

(b) The commissioner shall appoint, after consultation with the state advisory council, and may remove in like manner, not more than two program directors who shall be in the unclassified service, provided the title or duties of any director appointed pursuant to this subsection may be changed as the commissioner deems necessary after consultation with the state advisory council. Such directors may oversee community programs and services and the operation of institutions and facilities.

(c) The commissioner shall, in accordance with chapter 67 and after consultation with the state advisory council, appoint the administrative heads of all of the institutions and facilities transferred to the department and such other institutions and facilities as now are or hereafter may be established by or transferred to the department. Such administrative heads shall have skill and experience in the administration of children's services and shall manage their institutions and facilities in accordance with the regulations and orders of the commissioner.

(d) The commissioner shall, after consultation with the state advisory council, appoint and may remove in a like manner, up to six regional directors who shall be in the unclassified service. Each regional director shall have skill and experience in the field of children's services and in the administration of such services. Each regional director shall be subject to the direction of the commissioner and shall be responsible for the operation and administration of services provided or funded by the department in the regions created by the commissioner pursuant to subsection (a) of section 17a-30.

(1969, P.A. 664, S. 8; P.A. 75-400, S. 1, 2; 75-524, S. 6, 30; P.A. 79-104; P.A. 87-518, S. 2, 5; P.A. 93-216, S. 1; P.A. 95-339, S. 7, 8; P.A. 05-246, S. 2; P.A. 11-105, S. 6.)

History: P.A. 75-400 included two assistant superintendents; P.A. 75-524 specified council's advisory status, increased number of deputy commissioners to two and specified their qualifications and duties, and replaced previous provisions re appointments of division and institution heads with new Subsecs. (b) and (c); P.A. 79-104 amended Subsec. (b) to allow change in director's duties or titles after consultation with council; P.A. 87-518 inserted new Subsec. (b), authorizing appointment of six regional directors, and two assistant directors for each regional director, and relettered remaining subsections accordingly; Sec. 17-417 transferred to Sec. 17a-9 in 1991; P.A. 93-216 amended Subsec. (a) to increase number of deputy commissioners from two to three by separating support services as separate position, amended Subsec. (b) to replace directors with administrators and to delete provisions re assistant regional directors and amended Subsec. (c) to delete provisions requiring appointment of persons to fill specified directorships; P.A. 95-339 amended Subsec. (a) to reduce the number of deputy commissioners from three to two and to delete language describing the experience required for and the responsibilities of the eliminated position of deputy commissioner for support services, effective July 1, 1995; P.A. 05-246 deleted former Subsec. (b) re appointment and qualification of regional administrators, redesignated existing Subsecs. (c) and (d) as Subsecs. (b) and (c) and made a technical change in redesignated Subsec. (b), effective July 8, 2005; P.A. 11-105 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting provision requiring that directors be appointed in accordance with Ch. 67, adding requirement that not more than 2 program directors be appointed and adding provisions specifying that program directors be in the unclassified service and allowing directors to oversee programs, services and operations and added Subsec. (d) re appointment of regional directors, effective July 1, 2011.