(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, whenever any state agency is authorized by special or general statute to fix the salary or compensation of an employee or officer, which salary is payable in whole or in part out of state funds, the salary is subject only to the approval of the department before it becomes effective and payable, except as provided in subdivision (b). The Legislature may expressly provide that approval of the department is not required.
(b) Whenever any state court or other judicial agency is authorized by statute to fix the salary of an employee or officer who is exempt from civil service under subdivision (b) of Section 4 of Article VII of the Constitution, the salary is subject to the approval of the Chairman of the Judicial Council before it becomes effective and payable.