There is in the Department of General Services a State Architect who shall report directly to the director. He or she shall be appointed by the Governor with the approval of the Senate for a term of four years commencing with January 15 next following the general election at which a Governor is elected, and he or she shall hold office until appointment and qualification of his or her successor or until 150 days shall have elapsed since the expiration of the term for which he or she was appointed, whichever first occurs; but he or she may be dismissed by the Governor, with or without cause, at any time. The Governor may fill any vacancy in the Office of
State Architect for the unexpired portion of the term, but the appointment shall be subject to approval of the Senate at the next regular session of the Legislature.
No person shall be eligible for the Office of State Architect who has not, for a period of five years next preceding his or her appointment, held a certificate to practice architecture in California issued by the California State Board of Architectural Examiners.
The State Architect shall not engage in the private practice of architecture or in a managing capacity in any private business or enterprise. The salary of the State Architect shall be as provided by Article 1 (commencing with Section 11550) of Chapter 6 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.