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There shall be such agents, inspectors, chemists, experts, statisticians, accountants and other assistants and employees, as the commissioner shall deem necessary for the exercise of the powers and the performance of the duties of the department under this chapter. Such officers and employees shall be appointed by the commissioner and hold office during the pleasure of the commissioner. The officers and employees of the department who are in office when this chapter takes effect shall continue in office during the pleasure of the commissioner. The commissioner may transfer officers or employees from their positions to other positions in the department, or abolish or consolidate such positions. Prior to the appointment of inspectors and investigators by the department, applicants for such positions shall be fingerprinted as a condition of employment. Such fingerprints shall be submitted to the division of criminal justice services for a state criminal history record check, as defined in subdivision one of section three thousand thirty-five of the education law, and may be submitted to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal

nal history record check, as defined in subdivision one of section three thousand thirty-five of the education law, and may be submitted to the federal bureau of investigation for a national criminal history record check.