The secretary shall appoint the chief executive officers necessary to manage one or more of the public facilities operated by the department. This section, however, shall not apply to RCW 72.40.020.

Except as otherwise provided in this title, the chief executive officer of each institution may appoint all assistants and employees required for the management of the institution placed in his or her charge, the number of such assistants and employees to be determined and fixed by the secretary. The chief executive officer of any institution may, at his or her pleasure, discharge any person therein employed. The secretary shall investigate all complaints made against the chief executive officer of any institution and also any complaint against any other officer or employee thereof, if it has not been investigated and reported upon by the chief executive officer.

The secretary may, after investigation, for good and sufficient reasons, order the discharge of any subordinate officer or employee of an institution.

Each chief executive officer shall receive such salary as is fixed by the secretary, who shall also fix the compensation of other officers and the employees of each institution. Such latter compensation shall be fixed on or before the first day of April of each year and no change shall be made in the compensation, so fixed, during the twelve-month period commencing April 1st.

Severability—1983 1st ex.s. c 41: See note following RCW 26.09.060.

Authority to appoint a single executive officer for multiple institutions—Exception: RCW 43.20A.607.

Juvenile correctional institution in King county, appointment of superintendent: RCW 72.19.030.

Maple Lane School, appointment of superintendent and subordinate officers and employees: RCW 72.20.020.

State hospitals for individuals with mental illness—Superintendents: RCW 72.23.030.