(a)
(1) The Bank Commissioner, in consultation with the Secretary of the Department of Commerce, shall employ from time to time the assistants, examiners, clerks, stenographers, counsel, and other personnel as he or she may find necessary to properly and efficiently discharge the duties of his or her office.
(2) The commissioner shall be authorized to set minimum qualifications for these persons and to fix their levels of compensation within the limitations of the numbers of employees and the appropriations for their salaries as provided from time to time by acts of the General Assembly, provided he or she shall incur no expense until an appropriation shall have been made therefor nor in excess of the revenues of the State Bank Department.
(b) Counsel employed by the commissioner shall advise the commissioner in all legal matters affecting the State Bank Department.
(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of state law, and in order to maintain the confidentiality of information and the security of State Bank Department personnel in the performance of their duties, the commissioner shall be authorized to establish travel reimbursement guidelines for payment of expenses of State Bank Department personnel incurred in the performance of their duties.
(d) If the commissioner is not himself or herself at any time available for the transaction of any specific matter committed by law to his or her authority or discretion, any one of the deputy commissioners, or any other staff member so designated by the commissioner in writing, may transact such matter in the name and stead of the commissioner.
(e)
(1) The commissioner, each member of the State Banking Board, the deputy commissioners, chief examiners, counsel, each examiner, each accountant, each attorney, and each other officer, person, or employee, or both, of or for the State Bank Department shall not be personally liable for damages occasioned by his or her official acts or omissions, except when the acts or omissions are corrupt and malicious.
(2) The Attorney General shall defend any action brought against any of the above-mentioned persons by reason of his or her official acts or omissions, regardless of whether at the time of institution of the action the defendant has terminated his or her service with the State Bank Department.