(a) In settlement of their accounts, the Commissioner of Finance and Management shall allow State's Attorneys their expenses for secretarial assistance, office expenses, including rent, supplies, equipment, maintenance, legal forms and stationery, telephone service, professional liability insurance, the expense of printing briefs in cases in which the State's Attorney has represented the State, books, advance copies of the Vermont reports, advertising, dues and subscriptions, tuitions, and stipends for professional training and their necessary expense when away from home on official business.

(b)(1) Secretaries shall be hired by and shall serve at the pleasure of the State's Attorney unless otherwise modified by a collective bargaining agreement entered into pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 27. Secretaries shall be State employees paid by the State, and shall receive those benefits available to other classified State employees who are similarly situated but they shall not be subject to the rules provided for under 3 V.S.A. chapter 13. The compensation of each Secretary shall be determined by the Commissioner of Human Resources with the approval of the Governor unless otherwise determined through collective bargaining pursuant to 3 V.S.A. chapter 27. In fixing compensation, there shall be taken into consideration, among other things, the volume of work requiring the services of the Secretary and whether the services are on a full- or part-time basis.