Okla. Stat. tit. 74, § 74-10.3: Cabinet system to be created

A. Within forty-five (45) days of assuming office, each

Governor may create a cabinet system for the executive branch of

state government. The cabinet system may be an organizational

framework created by executive order which includes all executive

agencies, boards, commissions, or institutions and their assignments

to specific cabinet areas. The cabinet system shall consist of no

more than fifteen cabinet areas and each cabinet area shall consist

of executive agencies, boards, commissions, or institutions with

similar programmatic or administrative objectives. One cabinet area

shall consist of the Oklahoma Department of Veterans Affairs, its

institutions and other executive agencies, boards, commissions and

institutions which are related to veterans. The Governor's cabinet

shall be in effect until the Legislature supersedes each specific

cabinet area or department by providing by law for specific cabinet

areas or departments, or removes by law the authority of the

Governor to create a cabinet area. At any time during the

Governor’s term of office, the cabinet may be modified at the sole

discretion of the Governor subject to Senate confirmation as

provided by subsection B of this section.

B. The Governor shall appoint, with the advice and consent of

the Senate, a Secretary to head each cabinet area. The Secretary

appointee for the cabinet area consisting of the Oklahoma Department

of Veterans Affairs and other related veterans entities shall be an

honorably discharged veteran and be eligible to receive benefits

from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. A cabinet

Secretary may be appointed as a position funded by the Office of the

Governor from funds available to that office, or appointed as a

cabinet Secretary from among the agency heads within the cabinet

area. The cabinet Secretaries shall:

1. Advise the Governor of any policy changes or problems within

the area they represent;

2. Advise the entities represented of any policy changes or

problems as directed by the Governor; and

3. Coordinate information gathering for the Legislature as

requested.

C. The cabinet Secretaries shall serve at the pleasure of the

Governor, however, the appointment or removal of a cabinet Secretary

who is also an agency head shall not otherwise affect the status of

the other duties of the agency head. Whenever a Secretary position

becomes vacant, the Governor shall appoint a successor within thirty

(30) calendar days pursuant to the provisions of subsection B of

this section. If the Legislature is not in session at the time of

appointment it shall be subject to the advice and consent of the

Senate upon convening of the next regular session of the

Legislature.