It is enacted by the General Assembly as follows:

SECTION 1. Sections 42-6-3 and 42-6-4 of the General Laws in Chapter 42-6 entitled "Departments of State Government" is hereby amended to read as follows:

{ADD 42-6-3. Appointment of directors. -- ADD} (a) At the January session {DEL in each odd-numbered year DEL} {ADD following his or her election to office ADD} , the governor shall appoint a director of administration, a director of social and rehabilitative services, a director of mental health, retardation and hospitals, a director of transportation, a director of business regulation, a director of labor, a director of environmental management, a director of employment and training, a director of state library services, a director of economic development, a director for children, youth and families, a director of elderly affairs, director of corrections and a director of substance abuse. The governor shall, in all cases of appointment of a director while the senate is in session, notify the senate of his or her appointment and the senate shall, within twelve (12) legislative days after receipt of the notice, act upon the appointment. If the senate shall, within twelve (12) legislative days, vote to disapprove the appointment it shall so notify the governor, who shall forthwith appoint and notify the senate of the appointment of a different person as director and so on in like manner until the senate shall fail to so vote disapproval of the governor's appointment. If the senate shall fail, for twelve (12) legislative days next after notice, to act upon any appointment of which it has been notified by the governor, the person so appointed shall be the director. The governor may withdraw any appointment of which he or she has given notice to the senate, at any time within twelve (12) legislative days thereafter and before action has been taken thereon by the senate.

{ADD (b) Except as expressly provided in section 42-6-9, no director of any department shall be appointed or employed pursuant to any contract of employment for a period of time greater than the remainder of the governor's current term of office. Any contract entered into in violation of this section after the effective date of this act is hereby declared null and void. ADD}

{ADD 42-6-4. Filling of vacancies. -- ADD} {ADD (a) ADD} In case of a vacancy in any of the offices listed in section 42-6-3 while the senate is in session, the governor shall appoint a director to hold the office until his or her successor is appointed and qualified {DEL , and in DEL} {ADD ; provided, however, that no person so appointed shall serve in such position for more than ten (10) days unless that person's name shall have been submitted to the senate for its approval. ADD}

{ADD (b) In ADD} case of a vacancy while the senate is not in session, the governor shall appoint a director to hold the office until the next session thereof {DEL . DEL} {ADD ; provided, however, that no person should serve in such position for more than three (3) legislative days after the senate convenes unless that person's name shall have been submitted to the senate for its approval.

(c) In no case shall the governor appoint or designate any person to serve as "interim" or "acting" director of any department in circumvention of this section. ADD}

SECTION 2. This act shall take effect upon passage.