§ 500. Office of children and family services; commissioner. 1. There
is hereby continued in the department of family assistance an autonomous
office of children and family services. The head of such office shall be
the commissioner of children and family services, who shall be appointed
by the governor, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, and
shall serve at the pleasure of the governor. The commissioner may
appoint such officers, employees, agents and consultants as he or she
may deem necessary, prescribe their duties, fix their compensation and
provide for reimbursement of their expenses within the amounts available
therefor by appropriation.

2. The commissioner may promulgate, adopt, amend or rescind rules and
regulations necessary to carry out the provisions of this article,
provided, however, that such rules and regulations shall be strictly
limited in their application to the means and methods of compliance with
the provisions of this article.

3. Whenever the division for youth or its director is referred to in
any provision of this chapter or in any other law, such reference shall
be deemed to refer to the office of children and family services or the
commissioner of children and family services.