A. The Board shall have the following powers and duties:

1. To appoint the Executive Director and to set the salary of the Executive Director;

2. To adopt salary schedules for the System;

3. To establish policies for the System as provided by law;

4. To require reports from the Executive Director as the Board deems necessary;

5. To approve an annual budget for the System, prepared and administered by the Executive Director;

6. To authorize the acceptance of monies, gifts, grants, or services from any public or private source;

7. To review claims for expenditures of monies;

8. To authorize contracts with individuals, educational institutions, or state or federal agencies;

9. To allocate and distribute funds or gifts received from public or private sources for indigent defense; and

10. To consult with indigent defenders and defense lawyers who represent indigents pursuant to contract or who agree to accept indigent defense cases assigned by the System to discuss problems and hear recommendations concerning necessary research, minimum standards, educational needs, and other matters imperative to conducting Oklahoma criminal defense in a professional manner.

B. The Board shall make an annual report to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the Chief Justice of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and the Presiding Judge of the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals regarding the efforts of the Board to implement the purposes of the Indigent Defense Act.

C. If there is a vacancy or extended absence in the office of Executive Director, the Board shall perform the duties or appoint an interim director to perform such duties until a new Executive Director is appointed.

Added by Laws 1991, c. 238, § 4, eff. July 1, 1991. Amended by Laws 1992, c. 303, § 4, eff. July 1, 1992; Laws 1994, c. 328, § 2, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 2001, c. 210, § 4, eff. July 1, 2001.