The Oklahoma Veterans Commission shall perform all acts necessary or proper to afford emergency, temporary and permanent relief and assistance to all honorably discharged ex-service persons of all wars of the United States of America and to their dependents, and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by law. The Commission shall promulgate rules and regulations, in accordance with the Administrative Procedures Act, for the operation and maintenance of the Department of Veterans Affairs; provided, however, in all cases priority and preference shall always be given to disabled or diseased ex-service persons. The members of the Commission shall be reimbursed for necessary travel as provided in the State Travel Reimbursement Act. In addition to its other powers and duties as herein provided, the Commission shall have the following specific powers and duties which shall, however, not be deemed to be exclusive:

1. To organize itself by the election of a Chairman, Vice Chairman and Secretary, who shall perform the duties required of them by the rules and regulations, but shall receive no extra compensation therefor, and to provide for the time and place of meetings of the Commission;

2. To appoint the Director of the Department of Veterans Affairs and provide for the employment of all such other personnel as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of Sections 63.1 through 63.4 of this title, and any other duties prescribed by law. The salary and tenure of the Director of the Department shall be determined by the Commission; and

3. To approve all claims or expenditures from such appropriations as may be made to the Commission prior to the payment thereof except as may be otherwise provided by law.

Added by Laws 1974, p. 580, § 3, emerg. eff. April 24, 1947. Amended by Laws 1979, c. 5, § 1, operative July 1, 1979; Laws 1981, c. 169, § 3, emerg. eff. May 13, 1981; Laws 1985, c. 178, § 67, operative July 1, 1985; Laws 2014, c. 262, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2014.