A. The ABLE Commission shall appoint a Director, who shall employ an Assistant Director and such other personnel as are necessary to properly enforce and administer the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act. The Director shall require bonds in such instances and amounts as the ABLE Commission may direct, and shall be in direct charge of all records. The Director shall further have the following specific powers and duties:

1. To issue licenses provided for in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, and to approve or reject any official bond required to be filed with the Director or the ABLE Commission;

2. To appoint and employ, supervise and discharge such employees as may be determined necessary for the proper discharge of the duties of the office of Director, upon duties and salary fixed and determined by the ABLE Commission and subject to all the rules that may be promulgated by the ABLE Commission. The Director and the ABLE Commission, in appointing and employing personnel, shall give preference to honorably discharged members of the Armed Forces of the United States;

3. To conduct such investigations and make such reports as may be necessary to keep the ABLE Commission advised concerning any violations of the provisions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and make orders for its enforcement;

4. To make recommendations to the ABLE Commission concerning the suspension or revocation of any licenses, the levying of fines against licensees for violations of the provisions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act or rules of the ABLE Commission or any action that should be filed or commenced against any official bond theretofore approved by the Director or the ABLE Commission;

5. To regularly inspect all places of business of licensees, and all other persons, firms or corporations dealing in the manufacture, distribution, transportation, sale or service of alcoholic beverages under the provisions of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act and report to the ABLE Commission concerning any and all violations with a recommendation to the ABLE Commission for its determination;

6. To refer any evidence of a violation of any provision of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act which carries a criminal penalty to the appropriate law enforcement authority for action;

7. To aid the enforcement authorities of this state or any county or municipality of the state, or the federal government, in prosecutions of violations of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act; and

8. To enforce the provisions of the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act including but not limited to the levying of administrative fines against persons violating the provisions of the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act, and to at least annually conduct random unannounced inspections at locations where tobacco products are sold or distributed and conduct targeted inspections at those locations which have been in violation of the provisions of the Prevention of Youth Access to Tobacco Act.

B. The Director may employ or contract with attorneys, as needed, to advise the Director and the ABLE Commission on all legal matters and shall appear for and represent the Director and the ABLE Commission in all administrative hearings and all litigation or other proceedings which may arise in the discharge of their duties. At the request of the ABLE Commission, such attorneys shall assist district attorneys in prosecuting charges of violators of the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act.

Added by Laws 2016, c. 366, § 8, eff. Oct. 1, 2018.

NOTE: Laws 2016, c. 366, was conditionally effective upon passage of State Question No. 792, Legislative Referendum No. 370, which was adopted at election held on Nov. 8, 2016.