In Oklahoma, the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (“Department”) is a state agency that is responsible for managing fish and wildlife. The Department receives no general state tax appropriations and is supported by hunting and fishing license fees and federal excise taxes on hunting and fishing equipment. It is governed by the Wildlife Conservation Director under such rules, regulations, and policies as may be prescribed from time to time by the Oklahoma Wildlife Conservation Commission (“Commission”). Such rules and regulations and amendments thereof are filed and recorded in the office of the Secretary of State and become effective on the tenth day following such filing.
The Commission is composed of eight members who are appointed by the Governor and with the consent of the Senate and s/he will be removable only for cause, as provided by law for the removal of officers. The term of office of each such member will be eight years[i].
The members of the Commission receives no salary or other compensation for their services, other than expenses as may be authorized by the Legislature. Each member of the Commission will take the oaths required of other state officers and each execute a good and sufficient corporate surety bond in the sum of ten thousand dollars payable to the state of Oklahoma, conditioned upon the faithful performance of duty, and the premium thereon will be payable by the state.
A Director of Wildlife Conservation (“director”) is appointed by a majority vote of the entire Commission and can be removed only for a cause and after a public hearing by the Commission. The duties and compensation for the director’s services will be fixed by a majority vote of the entire Commission. The Commission determines the qualifications of the director, all assistants, and employees[ii].
The fees, or funds arising from the operation and transactions of said Commission and regulations pertaining to the bird, fish, game, and wildlife resources will be expended and used by said Commission for the control, management, restoration, conservation, of the bird, fish, game, and wildlife resources of the state. [iii].
Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation
[i] Okl. Const. Art. XXVI, § 1.
[ii] Okl. Const. Art. XXVI, § 3.
[iii] Okl. Const. Art. XXVI, § 4.
