A. The administrative head of the Department of Transportation shall be the Director of the Department of Transportation. The Director shall be an individual with a background of broad experience in the administration and management of complex public works or other comparable organizational structures, and who¹ shall be appointed by the Commission and serve at the pleasure of the Commission. He shall have the authority and duty to supervise, direct, account for, organize, plan, administer and execute the functions of the Department consistent with the general policies and procedures prescribed and established by the Commission. Any statutory references to the State Highway Director in Title 69 of the Oklahoma Statutes shall mean the Director of the Department of Transportation.

B. The Director shall employ a professional civil engineer who shall have broad experience in design and construction of complex highways or other transportation-related projects. This engineer shall be responsible to the Director for the management of all engineering functions of the Department.

C. This act² shall not affect the status and rights accrued under the State Merit System of Personnel Administration or the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System to persons serving as employees of any Department, Commission, Authority or other state agency who become employees of the Department of Transportation through the passage of this act.