Mo. Rev. Stat. § 217.035: Director's powers and duties — deputy director, appointment, compensation, powers in absence or incapacity of director.

The director shall have the authority to:

(1) Establish, with approval of the governor, the internal organization of the department and file the plan thereof with the secretary of state in the manner in which administrative rules are filed, the commissioner of administration and the revisor of statutes;

(2) Exclusively prepare the budgets of the department and each division within the department in the form and manner set out by statute or by the commissioner of administration;

(3) Designate by written order filed with the governor, the president pro tem of the senate, and the chairman of the joint committee on corrections, a deputy director of the department to act for and exercise the powers of the director during the director's absence for official business, vacation, illness or incapacity. The deputy director shall serve as acting director no longer than six months; however, after the deputy director has acted as director for longer than thirty days the deputy director shall receive compensation equal to that of the director;

(4) Procure, either through the division of purchasing or by other means authorized by law, supplies, material, equipment or contractual services for the department and each of its divisions;

(5) Establish policy for the department and each of its divisions;

(6) Designate any responsibilities, duties and powers given by sections 217.010, 217.810, 558.011 and 558.026 to the department or the department director to any division or division director.