(1) A district health officer may employ and fix the compensation of, by contract or otherwise, subject to the approval of the cabinet all medical, administrative, technical, clerical, professional, and other employees necessary for the maintenance and operation of the district health department in accordance with standards and merit system provisions prescribed by the cabinet.
(2) In the absence of a district health officer the secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services or his duly appointed representative shall serve as health officer for the district health department.
(3) All employees of county health departments which join a district health department shall become employees of the district health department.