(1) (a) The state board of land commissioners shall hire, pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution and with the consent of the governor, a director, and, through the director, shall employ an office force. The director shall, subject to the general policies of the state board of land commissioners, have administrative direction over the activities of the state board of land commissioners. The state board of land commissioners may contract for office space, acquire equipment and supplies, and enter into contracts as necessary to accomplish its duties.

(b) It is the duty of the director to keep the records of the state board of land commissioners; to make out and countersign all patents and leases issued by the board to purchasers and lessees of state lands, and keep a suitable record of the same; to file and preserve bonds of lessees and those given by purchasers to secure deferred payments; to make and deliver to purchasers a suitable certificate of purchase; to have the custody of the seal of the state board of land commissioners; to keep the minutes of the board; to receive all moneys collected on account of the state board of land commissioners, and to pay them over to the state treasurer, as prescribed by law; and to perform such other duties concerning the land affairs of the state as the said board may direct.

(2) (Deleted by amendment, L. 97, p. 835, § 3, effective May 21, 1997.)

(3) The board shall be provided with a suitable office and office furniture by the office of state planning and budgeting.

(4) The state board of land commissioners shall publish on or before November 1 of each year, subject to the approval and control of the executive director of the department of natural resources, a summary of the transactions of the state board of land commissioners, and the land affairs of the state, showing, by tables, the land belonging to the several funds of the state, to whom sold, the amount leased, and the receipts from all sources, and such summary shall contain any such other items or information concerning state lands as the state board of land commissioners or the executive director of the department of natural resources may deem worthy of publication. The state board of land commissioners shall deliver the summary of land transactions prepared pursuant to this subsection (4) as specified in subsection (8) of this section.

(5) Before assuming the duties of his office, each member of the state board of land commissioners shall give a surety bond, the expense of which shall be paid from the operating funds of the state board of land commissioners, in the sum of thirty thousand dollars, conditional upon the faithful discharge of his duties, which bond shall be approved by the governor and state treasurer and filed with the secretary of state.

(6) The board shall report annually to the executive director of the department of natural resources at such time and on such matters as the executive director may require. Publications of the board circulated in quantity outside the department shall be subject to the approval and control of the executive director.

(7) Repealed.

(8) Notwithstanding section 24-1-136 (11)(a)(I), the state board of land commissioners shall deliver a copy of the summary of land transactions required pursuant to subsection (4) of this section, the investment and development fund report required pursuant to section 36-1-153 (4), and the income and inventory report required pursuant to section 36-1-153.5 (1) on or before November 1, 2011, and on or before November 1 of each year thereafter, to the members of the house and senate education committees, or any successor committees, the members of the house agriculture, livestock, and natural resources committee and the senate agriculture and natural resources committee, or any successor committees, the members of the joint budget committee, the members of the state board of education, and the state treasurer. In addition, the state board of land commissioners shall make the summary of land transactions, the investment and development fund report, and the income and inventory report available to the public on the state board of land commissioners website on or before November 1, 2011, and on or before November 1 of each year thereafter.