The Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be separate and distinct from the Legislature, any state agency, entity, or official. The Lieutenant Governor may appoint, without regard to the State Merit System law, such personnel as may be necessary to carry out the duties and functions of the office. The compensation of personnel so employed shall be fixed by the Lieutenant Governor in accordance with that of comparable positions established under the State Merit System pay plan. The Lieutenant Governor may prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the personnel of the office. All personnel appointed pursuant to this section shall serve at the pleasure of the Lieutenant Governor making the appointment.
Compensation of personnel employed pursuant to this section shall be payable as the salaries of other state employees are paid. The compensation of those personnel shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The compensation, expense allowances, or other emoluments due those personnel shall be certified by the Lieutenant Governor to the Comptroller who shall issue a warrant therefor from funds appropriated to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor.
Business travel by the Lieutenant Governor and by the personnel of the Office of the Lieutenant Governor shall be approved by the Lieutenant Governor and shall be paid from funds appropriated to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. The Lieutenant Governor shall have authority to purchase, lease, or contract for equipment, supplies, and services for use by the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and pay for the equipment, supplies, and services from funds appropriated to the Office of the Lieutenant Governor. For purposes of purchasing, leasing, or contracting for equipment, supplies, or services, the Office of Lieutenant Governor shall be deemed a part of the Legislative Department.