Okla. Stat. tit. 2, § 2-5-60.26: Powers and duties of board - Rules

A. The commodity producers board shall have the power and duty

to:

1. Employ personnel deemed necessary by the board, fix the

amount and manner of their compensation, and incur other expenses

that are necessary and proper to enable the board to effectively

carry out the purposes of the Oklahoma Agricultural Commodity Act;

2. Adopt and amend bylaws as necessary to promptly and

effectively administer the Oklahoma Agricultural Commodity Act;

3. Retain legal counsel as is required to fulfill the purposes

of the Oklahoma Agricultural Commodity Act;

4. Sue and be sued;

5. Initiate prosecution and civil remedies necessary to collect

any assessments due and owing to the commodity producers board;

6. Cooperate with local, state, national or international

organizations, whether public or private, in carrying out the

purposes of contracts as may be necessary;

7. Make such reasonable expenditures of funds as is necessary

to carry out the provisions of the Oklahoma Agricultural Commodity

Act;

8. Call and conduct such meetings and elections as may be

necessary in carrying out the provisions of the Oklahoma

Agricultural Commodity Act;

9. Keep minutes of its meetings and other books and records

that clearly reflect all acts and transactions of the board. The

board shall open its records to examination by any participating

producer or the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of

Agriculture, Food, and Forestry during regular business hours;

provided, the board may determine in bylaws that certain information

provided by a commodity producer is confidential due to proprietary

or privacy reasons;

10. Set the rate of the assessment. The rate may not exceed

the maximum established by statute in the case of successor

organization or in the election authorizing the assessment or a

subsequent election establishing a maximum rate in the case of a

certified organization;

11. Deposit all monies received by the board, including but not

limited to assessments, donations, and grants, in a bank selected by

the board and invest in securities of the state or federal

government, certificates of deposit or certificates of any bank,

trust company or savings and loan association insured by a federal

agency;

12. Establish an office or headquarters as necessary;

13. Purchase, lease, sell, exchange or dispose of real or

personal property;

14. Formulate general policies and programs for the education,

discovery, promotion, and development of markets and industries for

the utilization of the commodity in cooperation with the Oklahoma

Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry;

15. Hire or retain legal counsel to represent the board in any

matter and producers in matters pertaining to transportation

problems and other matters which could result in potential

substantial loss to producers;

16. Borrow money for any lawful purpose;

17. Act separately or in cooperation with any person in

developing, carrying out, and participating in programs of research,

disease and insect control, predator control, education, and

promotion designed to encourage the production, marketing, and use

of the commodity on which the assessment is levied; and

18. Exercise such other powers as necessary to carry out the

purposes of the Oklahoma Agricultural Commodity Act.

B. The State Board of Agriculture may promulgate rules for the

establishment of commodity producer boards pursuant to the Oklahoma

Agricultural Commodity Act as necessary. The rules shall ensure

that such commodity producer boards are established and administered

in a uniform manner.