80.
(a) Except as otherwise provided by law, the secretary may hire any expert, technical, legal, clerical, and other employees as the secretary deems necessary to carry out his or her powers and duties.The (b) director may employ subject to law such expert, technical, legal, clerical, and other employees as may be necessary to carry out his powers and duties and except as expressly Except as otherwise provided in Section 71 of this chapter, the director 71, the secretary shall be the sole appointing authority for the department for all positions. Whenever possible preference shall be given to veterans for employment in the department.
(c) Whenever possible, the department shall give preference to veterans for employment with the department.