KRS 341.125: Secretary of Education and Labor Cabinet -- Powers and duties --

Personnel.

(1) It shall be the duty of the secretary of the Education and Labor Cabinet to

administer this chapter; and he shall have power and authority to make such

expenditures, require such reports, make such investigations, and take such

other action not specifically assigned to the cabinet, as he or she deems

necessary for the proper administration of this chapter.

(2) The secretary is authorized, subject to the provisions of KRS Chapters 12, 42,

45, and 45A, to appoint, fix the compensation, and prescribe duties and powers

of such officers and employees as may be necessary in the performance of his

or her duties under this chapter. All positions shall be filled by persons selected

and appointed on a nonpartisan merit basis. The secretary shall not employ or

pay any person who is an officer or committee member of any political party

organization. The secretary may delegate to any such person so appointed

such power and authority as he or she deems reasonable and proper for the

effective administration of this chapter.

(3) The salary and expenses of the secretary and his or her staff shall be

considered a proper cost of the administration of this chapter, to be charged to

the unemployment compensation administration fund in that proportion which

the cost of such services rendered in the administration of this chapter bears to

the overall cost of the services rendered in the administration of the cabinet.

(4) The secretary shall submit to the Governor an annual report covering the

administration and operation of this chapter and make such recommendations

for amendments to this chapter as he or she deems proper.

(5) In the administration of this chapter the secretary shall cooperate to the fullest

extent possible with any agency of this state or any other state or of the United

States and shall take such action, through the adoption of appropriate rules,

regulations, administrative methods, and standards, as may be necessary to

secure for this state and its citizens all the advantages available under the

provisions of the Social Security Act, as amended, that relate to unemployment

compensation, the Federal Unemployment Tax Act, as amended, the

Wagner-Peyser Act, as amended, and the Federal-State Extended

Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970.