A. There is hereby created, to continue until July 1, 2010, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the Oklahoma Beef Council.

B. The Oklahoma Beef Council shall:

1. Promote the sale and use of beef and beef products, support national beef promotion, research, education, and other consumer marketing activities related to beef and cattle production, and otherwise support consumer market development and promotion efforts on a national and international scale;

2. Develop new uses and markets for beef and beef products;

3. Develop and improve methods of distributing beef and beef products to the consumer;

4. Develop methods of improving the quality and safety of beef and beef products for consumer benefit;

5. Inform and educate the public of the nutritive, safety, and economic values of beef and beef products;

6. Function in a liaison capacity with the beef and other food industries of the state and elsewhere in matters that would increase efficiencies ultimately benefiting the consumer and the industry;

7. Receive and disburse funds for use in administering and implementing the provisions and intent of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act;

8. Annually elect a chairperson from among its members who may be reelected for not more than one one-year term;

9. Meet regularly, but in no case shall meet less than one time per calendar quarter, at any other times as called by the Chair, or upon request by three or more members of the Council;

10. Maintain a permanent record of all business proceedings;

11. Maintain a permanent and detailed record of all financial dealings;

12. Prepare periodic reports and an annual report of all activities for each fiscal year, for review by the beef cattle industry of the state. The annual report shall be filed with the Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee or successor committee, the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee or successor committee, the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, and the Governor;

13. Prepare periodic reports and an annual accounting for each fiscal year of all receipts and expenditures for review of the beef cattle industry of the state and provide for annual audits conducted by a certified public accounting firm;

14. Adopt and promulgate rules pursuant to the Administrative Procedures Act, with the assistance of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry if requested by the Council, for implementation of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act;

15. Maintain an office at a specific location in Oklahoma that is accessible to beef producers and conducive to operating the programs of the Council; and

16. Have such other powers and duties to implement the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act.

C. The Council may:

1. Conduct or contract for scientific research with any accredited university, college, or similar institution and enter into other contracts or agreements that aid in carrying out the purposes of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act, including, but not limited to, contracts for the purchase or acquisition of facilities, advertising, or equipment;

2. Disseminate reliable information benefiting consumers and the beef cattle industry on subjects including, but not limited to, purchase, identification, care, storage, handling, cookery, preparation, serving size or portion, and nutritional value of beef and beef products;

3. Provide information to various governmental bodies, upon request, on subjects of concern to the beef industry and act jointly or in cooperation with the state or federal government, and agencies thereof, in the development or administration of programs deemed by the Council as consistent with the objectives of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act;

4. Cause any civil action to be filed to enforce the provisions of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act;

5. Appoint advisory groups composed of representatives from organizations, institutions, governments, or business related to or interested in the welfare of the beef industry and the consuming public;

6. Employ an Executive Director and employees of the Council and prescribe their duties and fix their compensation and terms of employment;

7. Cooperate with any local, state, regional or nationwide organization or agency engaged in work or activities consistent with the objectives of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act; and

8. Cause any duly authorized agent or representative of the Council to enter upon the premises of any market agent with proper warrants and examine or require examination of only those books, papers, and records associated in any way with payments of assessments or enforcement of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act. It shall be incumbent upon the Council to make appropriate arrangements with the persons being examined to ensure that an orderly examination is made that does not impede on the person's normal course of business.

D. Members of the Council shall not be individually liable for acts of the Council when acting within the scope of the Council's powers and in the manner prescribed by the laws of the state;

Added by Laws 2004, c. 34, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2004.