A. The Commissioner, subject to the Merit System laws, if applicable, shall appoint a Chief of Administration and such other deputies, subordinates, officers, investigators and other employees as may be necessary to implement the provisions of this title. Any employee of the Department of Public Safety appointed to the position of Chief of Administration who is otherwise statutorily eligible shall have a right to return to the previous position of the employee without any loss of rights, privileges or benefits immediately upon completion of the duties as Chief of Administration, provided the employee is not otherwise disqualified.

B. When traveling with the Governor or at his or her request:

1. Those personnel assigned by the Commissioner for executive security shall be allowed their actual and necessary traveling expenses, upon claims approved by the Commissioner, and shall receive, in addition to base salary, an additional One Hundred Seventy-five Dollars ($175.00) per month; and

2. Those personnel serving as noncommissioned pilots in the Department of Public Safety shall be allowed their actual and necessary traveling expenses, upon claims approved by the Commissioner.

C. Any person appointed to the position of Chief of Administration of the Department of Public Safety shall be eligible for retirement participation as a member of the Highway Patrol Division in the Oklahoma Law Enforcement Retirement System if such person at the time of appointment satisfies the age qualifications of an Oklahoma Highway Patrolman as provided in subsection B of Section 2-105 of this title, and is otherwise eligible to participate in the retirement program; otherwise, the Chief of Administration shall participate in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement upon appointment. However, the Chief of Administration shall be eligible for participation in only one retirement system and shall elect in writing the system in which the Chief of Administration intends to participate.

D. The salaries of the employees of the Department of Public Safety shall be governed by and in accordance with the procedures established by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, unless otherwise provided by law.

Added by Laws 1961, p. 323, § 2-104, eff. Sept. 1, 1961. Amended by Laws 1961, p. 311, § 1; Laws 1965, c. 429, § 2; Laws 1967, c. 349, § 1, emerg. eff. May 18, 1967; Laws 1969, c. 284, § 1, emerg. eff. April 25, 1969; Laws 1970, c. 244, § 1, eff. July 1, 1970; Laws 1971, c. 354, § 1, operative July 1, 1971; Laws 1972, c. 234, § 1, operative July 1, 1972; Laws 1973, c. 224, § 2, emerg. eff. May 24, 1973; Laws 1974, c. 291, § 2, operative July 1, 1974; Laws 1975, c. 321, § 2, operative July 1, 1975; Laws 1976, c. 242, § 2, operative July 1, 1976; Laws 1977, c. 249, § 2, operative July 1, 1977; Laws 1978, c. 271, § 2, operative July 1, 1978; Laws 1979, c. 267, § 2, eff. July 1, 1979; Laws 1980, c. 350, § 2, eff. July 1, 1980; Laws 1981, c. 340, § 13, eff. July 1, 1981; Laws 1982, c. 352, § 10, operative July 1, 1982; Laws 1983, c. 286, § 10, operative July 1, 1983; Laws 1986, c. 19, § 2, emerg. eff. March 17, 1986; Laws 1986, c. 279, § 9, operative July 1, 1986; Laws 1987, c. 205, § 67, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 1989, c. 295, § 11, operative July 1, 1989; Laws 1990, c. 258, § 60, operative July 1, 1990; Laws 1998, c. 395, § 2, eff. Sept. 1, 1998; Laws 1999, c. 1, § 12, emerg. eff. Feb. 24, 1999; Laws 2002, c. 397, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2002; Laws 2012, c. 304, § 160; Laws 2019, c. 290, § 1, emerg. eff. May 2, 2019.

NOTE: Laws 1983, c. 302, § 2 repealed by Laws 1986, c. 19, § 7, emerg. eff. March 17, 1986. Laws 1998, c. 245, § 2 repealed by Laws 1999, c. 1, § 45, emerg. eff. Feb. 24, 1999.