It shall be the duty of the board to adopt rules governing its proceedings, to elect a chairman and secretary, to keep permanent and accurate records of its proceedings, to establish criteria for making awards, to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this article, and to approve each award made.

In establishing criteria for making awards, the board may exclude certain levels of positions from participation in the program, but in no event shall:

(1) The following levels of management, within the spending unit where the adopted suggestion will result in substantial savings, be eligible to receive cash awards under the program:

(a) Governor's staff, departmental secretaries and their equivalent; and

(b) Assistant or deputy secretary, assistant to secretary, commissioner, assistant or deputy commissioner, major fiscal and administrative policy departmental staff or their equivalent.

(c) Director or division chief, including the division chief or director of a statewide program, and which includes a chief of a division supervising several service units or their equivalent.

(d) Assistant to director or division chief, section chief or head of major departmental function or their equivalent; and

(2) The following levels of management, not within the spending unit where the adopted suggestion will result in substantial savings, be eligible to receive cash awards under the program:

(a) Governor's staff, departmental secretaries and their equivalent;

(b) Assistant or deputy secretary, assistant to secretary, commissioner, assistant or deputy commissioner.