A. The secretary of the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision shall be paid an annual salary in an amount fixed by the Board. The Board shall have the authority to expend such funds as are necessary in carrying out the duties of the Board and shall have the authority to hire all necessary personnel, at salaries to be fixed by the Board, as the Board shall deem necessary. The Board shall have the authority to hire attorneys to represent the Board in all legal matters and to assist authorized state and county officers in prosecuting or restraining violations of Section 481 et seq. of this title, and to fix the salaries or per diem of the attorneys.

B. The Board shall have the authority to hire one or more investigators as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of the Oklahoma Allopathic Medical and Surgical Licensure and Supervision Act at an annual salary to be fixed by the Board. Such investigators may be commissioned peace officers of this state. In addition such investigators shall have the authority and duty to investigate and inspect the records of all persons in order to determine whether or not a disciplinary action for unprofessional misconduct is warranted or whether the narcotic laws or the dangerous drug laws have been complied with.

C. 1. For purposes of this section, investigators shall be peace officers certified by the Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training and shall have statewide jurisdiction to perform the duties authorized by this section. In addition, the investigators shall have all the powers now or hereafter vested by law in peace officers.

2. Investigators for the Oklahoma State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision shall perform such services as are necessary in the investigation of criminal activity or preparation of administrative actions.

3. Any licensee or applicant for license subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma Allopathic Medical and Surgical Licensure and Supervision Act shall be deemed to have given consent to any duly authorized investigator of the Board to access, enter or inspect the records, either on-site or at the Board office, or facilities of such licensee or applicant subject to the Oklahoma Allopathic Medical and Surgical Licensure and Supervision Act. Refusal to allow such access, entry or inspection may constitute grounds for the denial, nonrenewal, suspension or revocation of a license. Upon refusal of such access, entry or inspection, pursuant to this section, the Board or a duly authorized representative may make application for and obtain a search warrant from the district court where the facility or records are located to allow such access, entry or inspection.

D. 1. The Board is specifically authorized to contract with state agencies or other bodies to perform investigative services or other administrative services at a rate set by the Board.

2. The Board is authorized to pay the travel expenses of Board employees and members in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

3. The expenditures authorized herein to include capital purchases shall not be a charge against the state, but the same shall be paid solely from the Board's depository fund.

Added by Laws 1923, c. 59, p. 112, § 32, emerg. eff. March 31, 1923. Amended by Laws 1970, c. 145, § 3, emerg. eff. April 7, 1970; Laws 1980, c. 159, § 12, emerg. eff. April 2, 1980; Laws 1985, c. 178, § 33, operative July 1, 1985; Laws 1987, c. 118, § 31, operative July 1, 1987; Laws 1994, c. 323, § 35, eff. July 1, 1994; Laws 2002, c. 213, § 5, emerg. eff. May 8, 2002; Laws 2014, c. 176, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2014; Laws 2019, c. 492, § 10, eff. Nov. 1, 2019.