(a) To facilitate a state agency's work during an emergency or other special circumstance, an employee may be temporarily assigned to other duties for a period not to exceed six months. The employee is entitled to receive during the period of reassignment at least the same rate of pay that the employee received immediately before the reassignment. An employee may not be temporarily assigned under this subsection to a position classified in a salary group with a lower minimum salary rate.
(b) An employee may not be assigned temporary duties under this section for more than six months during a twelve-month period.
(c) An employee temporarily designated to act as the administrative head of a state agency may continue to receive a salary for a classified position in an amount not to exceed the amount established by the General Appropriations Act for the administrative head of the agency.
(d) While the employee is temporarily assigned under this section, the state agency may not:
(1) award a merit salary increase to the employee; or
(2) promote or demote the employee.