Okla. Stat. tit. 57, § 57-507: Director - Status - Powers and duties

The Director shall be the executive officer of the Department

and shall have the following general powers and duties:

(a) To supervise the activities of the Department and, subject

to the policies established by the Board, to act for the Department

in all matters, except as may be otherwise provided in this act.

(b) To prescribe rules and regulations for the operation of the

Department, consistent with the general policies established by the

Board.

(c) To appoint and fix the duties and salaries of such

personnel for the Department as may be necessary to administer and

carry out the provisions of this act. The Department and the

employees thereof, except the members of the Board and the Director

shall be subject to the provisions of the State Merit System of

Personnel Administration, but the Governor may by Executive Order

exempt positions therefrom as authorized by Section 802 of Title 74

of the Oklahoma Statutes, except as may be otherwise provided in

this act.

(d) To accept, use, disburse and administer grants, allotments,

gifts, devises, bequests, appropriations and other monies and

property offered or given to the Department, or any component or

agency thereof, by any agency of the federal government or any

corporation or individual for the use of the Department.