81-15,254.

Department of Environment and Energy; Director of Environment and Energy; employees of State Energy Office; transfer; how treated.

(1) On and after July 1, 2019, the State Energy Office shall be merged into the Department of Environmental Quality which shall be renamed as the Department of Environment and Energy and the Director of Environmental Quality shall be renamed as the Director of Environment and Energy.

(2) On and after July 1, 2019, positions of employment in the State Energy Office related to the powers, duties, and functions transferred to the Department of Environment and Energy pursuant to Laws 2019, LB302, are transferred to the Department of Environment and Energy. For purposes of the transition, employees of the State Energy Office shall be considered employees of the Department of Environment and Energy and shall retain their rights under the state personnel system or pertinent bargaining agreement, and their service shall be deemed continuous. This section does not grant employees any new rights or benefits not otherwise provided by law or bargaining agreement or preclude the department or the director from exercising any of the prerogatives of management set forth in section 81-1311 or as otherwise provided by law. This section is not an amendment to or substitute for the provisions of any existing bargaining agreements.