The director may employ technical, clerical, stenographic, administrative and operative assistants and other personnel, subject to the Civil Service Law, and make expenditures, with approval of the commissioner, that are necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter.

The director, subject to the direction and control of the commissioner, is responsible administratively to the commissioner, retains direct access to the Governor in the case of an emergency and is responsible for notifying the Governor and the commissioner of all emergencies.__The director is the executive head of the agency and is responsible for carrying out the program for emergency management. The director shall represent the Governor on all matters pertaining to the comprehensive emergency management program and the disaster and emergency response of the State; shall coordinate the activities of all organizations for emergency management within the State; shall maintain liaison with and cooperate with emergency management and public safety agencies and organizations of other states, the Federal Government and foreign countries, and their political subdivisions; prior to the annual meeting required in section 782, subsection 4, shall provide to each of the local emergency management organizations of the State an annual assessment of each organization's degree of emergency management capability and any other information pertinent to ensuring the public's welfare and safety within the local organization's jurisdiction; and has additional authority, duties and responsibilities as may be prescribed by the commissioner or the Governor.

The director shall may not require any political subdivision to participate in any program of nuclear civil protection planning.

The director, in consultation with the Office of Chief Medical Examiner, shall prepare a plan for the recovery, identification and disposition of human remains in a disaster. The Office of Chief Medical Examiner is responsible for execution of the plan, with full cooperation and assistance from all other members of the emergency management forces.