A. The Wildlife Conservation Commission shall constitute an advisory, administrative and policymaking board for the protection, restoration, perpetuation, conservation, supervision, maintenance, enhancement, and management of wildlife in this state as provided in the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Code.

B. The Director shall consult with the Commission regarding the administration of the affairs of the Department of Wildlife Conservation. The Commission is authorized and empowered to require from the Director complete reports and information relative to the affairs of the Department at the time and in the manner the Commission may deem advisable.

C. The Commission shall meet in regular session at least nine times per year not to exceed one meeting per month with not more than two consecutive calendar months between meetings and in special sessions as may be called by the Chair or a majority of the Commission. The Commission may hold any regular or special session at any location within this state. Should a location be chosen other than Commission headquarters in Oklahoma City for a regular or special meeting, notice shall be posted at Commission headquarters in Oklahoma City and advertised in the local newspaper of the city in which the meeting is to be held, at least one time during each of the two (2) weeks prior to the meeting. The advertisements shall include time, date, and address of location of the meeting.

D. In addition to the other powers and duties prescribed by law, the Commission shall:

1. Institute an affirmative action plan for hiring women and minorities throughout the agency;

2. Elect a chair, vice-chair, and secretary, who shall perform the duties required of them by statutes, rules of the Commission, and the Constitution of the State of Oklahoma. The chair, vice-chair, and secretary shall receive no extra compensation;

3. Appoint a Director, and determine the qualifications of the Director and all assistants and employees. A Commissioner shall not be eligible for employment in any position within the Department;

4. Prescribe rules and policies for the transaction of its business and the control of the Department;

5. Develop and implement a plan to provide step raises for Commission employees so that discrepancies of pay levels within a pay grade are eliminated;

6. Acquire by purchase, lease, gift, or devise, waters, real property, and personal property incident to the exercise of its functions and to maintain, operate, and dispose of the same;

7. Acquire real property by condemnation only when the Attorney General or other counsel deems it an appropriate means of clearing title from willing or unavailable sellers;

8. Supervise the establishment, extension, improvement, and operation of the wildlife refuges, propagation areas or stations, public hunting areas, public fishing areas, game management areas, and fish hatcheries;

9. Prescribe the manner of cooperation with the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, colleges and universities within the state, other state agencies, any agency of the federal government, and any city, town, school district, or any other agency or organization in study of conservation and propagation of wildlife and in the establishment, maintenance, and operation of visual educational facilities, recreational facilities, and hunting and fishing facilities, in the study and propagation of wildlife;

10. Supervise the letting of all contracts and purchases for the Department, with all purchases of personal property to be made through the Office of Management and Enterprise Services;

11. Authorize all claims or expenditures prior to incurring payment except as otherwise provided in this Code;

12. Prescribe rules on the use of Department-owned vehicles by the Director, department heads and other essential employees as the Commission deems necessary in order to perform their duties;

13. Prescribe rules for the sale of all regular or special licenses;

14. Publicize and encourage the conservation and appreciation of wildlife and all other natural resources;

15. Regulate the seasons and harvest of wildlife;

16. Promulgate rules to sell fishing and hunting licenses via the Internet;

17. Annually report to the Governor and the Legislature on the complete operation, activities, and plans of the Department, together with such recommendations for future activities as the Commission may deem to be in the best interest of the state; and

18. Provide the Governor and the Legislature with an annual inventory of all property and equipment.

Added by Laws 1974, c. 17, § 3-103, emerg. eff. April 8, 1974. Amended by Laws 1983, c. 304, § 9, eff. July 1, 1983; Laws 1990, c. 193, § 1, emerg. eff. May 7, 1990; Laws 1991, c. 262, § 1; Laws 1994, c. 318, § 1, emerg. eff. June 8, 1994; Laws 1995, c. 255, § 1, eff. July 1, 1995; Laws 1996, c. 7, § 4, emerg. eff. March 19, 1996; Laws 2001, c. 77, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2001; Laws 2006, c. 138, § 11, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 116; Laws 2017, c. 24, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2017.