The Commission shall appoint the staff necessary to perform the duties of the Commission. The activities of the staff may not duplicate or conflict with the functions and services of the Division of Parole and Probation. Except as otherwise provided by law, the staff is subject to the provisions of Title 6, Subtitle 4 of the State Personnel and Pensions Article. The Secretary may appoint the hearing examiners necessary to conduct parole release hearings under paragraph (2) of this subsection, as provided in the State budget. Each hearing examiner shall: be appointed without regard to political affiliation; be a resident of the State; and have training and experience in law, sociology, psychology, psychiatry, education, social work, or criminology. A hearing examiner is entitled to compensation in accordance with the State budget. A hearing examiner or a commissioner acting as a hearing examiner may hear cases for parole release that are not required to be heard by the Commission under § 7-205(a)(3) of this subtitle.