Whenever a vacancy occurs in any state office which vacancy may be filled by appointment by the governor without confirmation by the senate, if the person appointed to fill such vacancy is under the classified service of the civil service, such person may be appointed as acting official of the office or position to be filled and shall retain his or her status in said classified service during his or her tenure in such office. Any such acting official shall be vested with and exercise all the rights, powers, duties, authority and jurisdiction of the office to which such official is so appointed.
K.S.A. 75-118