(a) The secretary shall be appointed by, and hold office at the pleasure of, the Governor. The appointment of the secretary is subject to confirmation by the Senate. The secretary shall coordinate all state disaster response, emergency planning, emergency preparedness, disaster recovery, disaster mitigation, and homeland security activities.
(b) The secretary shall receive an annual salary as set forth in Section 11550.
(c) The Governor may appoint an undersecretary of the agency. The undersecretary shall hold office at the pleasure of the Governor.
(d) All positions exempt from civil service that existed in the predecessor agencies shall be transferred to the agency.
(e) Neither state nor federal funds may be expended to pay the salary or benefits of any deputy or employee who may be appointed by the secretary or undersecretary pursuant to Section 4 of Article VII of the California Constitution.