(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of AS 39.25.195, a hiring department or agency may grant a preference to local residents in the appointment of nonpermanent employees or in the appointment of permanent employees to perform seasonal work assignments of 180 calendar days or less in a 12-month period. If there are no local residents on the applicable list of applicants qualified for a nonpermanent or a permanent seasonal position or if the local residents on the applicable list of applicants qualified for the position are unavailable, the hiring department or agency may obtain referrals of qualified job applicants for these positions from the job service office of the Department of Labor and Workforce Development serving the area and, from those applicants, select a qualified person who is a local resident for the position.
(b) Appointment of a nonpermanent employee in accordance with (a) of this section does not require the prior written approval of the director under AS 39.25.195.