45-5-7. Hearing of complaints against budget unit employees and proceedings thereupon; effect on tenure.

Upon information being received that any individual employed by the state government is guilty or is alleged to be guilty of irregularities, misconduct, malpractice, malfeasance, misfeasance, incompetence, incapability, or inefficiency in the conduct of his or her official duties, the head of the budget unit, department, or agency employing said person shall be notified of such charges; and if the head of the budget unit, department, or agency takes the position that the charges are unfounded and fails or refuses to discharge the individual against whom the complaint is lodged, it shall be the duty of the Governor to hear the complaint and if, in his opinion, the facts sustain the truth of the accusation, the individual shall stand discharged from state service. Nothing in this Code section shall affect the tenure of office of the elected officials of this state, nor the tenure of office of appointed officials of this state who have been confirmed by the Senate as required by law, nor the tenure of office of those employees who are subject to merit system laws and rules and regulations.