{"data":{"id":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-70-70-3309.1","jurisdiction":"us-ok","citation":"Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3309.1","heading":"Oklahoma Museum of Natural History","body":"A. The J. Willis Stovall Museum of the University of Oklahoma\n\nlocated in Norman, Oklahoma, shall be redesignated the \"Oklahoma\n\nMuseum of Natural History\" and shall be under the direction and\n\nsupervision of the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.\n\nB. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall be administered\n\nby a Director who shall be appointed by the Board of Regents of the\n\nUniversity of Oklahoma. The Director may also hold an appointment\n\nin an appropriate academic department of the University. The\n\nDirector has the power and duty to:\n\n1. employ, appoint and fix the qualifications and duties of\n\nsuch professional, technical and support personnel as shall be\n\nnecessary to implement the provisions of this act; 2. participate\n\nin national and international research projects, professional\n\nactivities, and programs to broaden the horizons of Oklahomans by\n\ndocumenting their cultural and natural heritage within its worldwide\n\ncontext;\n\n3. encourage the preservation and development of natural\n\nresources and human cultural heritage;\n\n4. act in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies or\n\nduly authorized agents thereof in implementing the purposes of this\n\nact; and\n\n5. exercise all incidental powers which are necessary and\n\nproper to carry out the purposes of this act.\n\nC. The purposes of the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall\n\nbe to conduct scientific investigations to preserve and develop a\n\ngreater understanding and appreciation of natural resources and\n\nhuman cultural heritage. This includes, but is not limited to,\n\nbiological, ecological, paleontological and selected geological\n\nsurveys, including indepth archaeological research, and ethnological\n\nanalyses. The museum shall collect and maintain a depository of\n\nbiological, archaeological, paleontological and selected geological\n\nspecimens and materials in sufficient numbers and quantities to\n\nprovide within the state and region a base for research on:\n\n1. the variety, evolution, and conservation of wild species;\n\n2. the composition, distribution, importance, and functioning\n\nof natural ecosystems; and\n\n3. the distribution of prehistoric and historic archaeological\n\nsites.\n\nD. Each institution, department, survey and agency in this\n\nstate may preserve and maintain biological, archaeological,\n\npaleontological or selected geological specimens collected as part\n\nof the normal research and monitoring duties of such institution,\n\ndepartment, survey and agency. Each institution may elect to\n\ntransfer specimens and collections in its possession that it no\n\nlonger wishes to maintain or preserve, thus providing an instate\n\nrepository for state collections that are no longer wanted by a\n\nstate institution.\n\nE. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is empowered to\n\naccept, preserve, maintain, or dispose of these specimens and\n\nmaterials in a manner which makes each collection and its\n\naccompanying data available for research and use by the staff of the\n\nmuseum and by cooperating institutions, departments, surveys,\n\nagencies, and qualified independent researchers.\n\nF. All such biological, archaeological, paleontological and\n\nselected geological collections shall belong to the state with title\n\nvested in the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.\n\nG. The collections of the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History\n\nshall not only reflect the biological, cultural, paleontological and\n\nselected geological history of the state but may also include\n\nartifacts and specimens from throughout the world.\n\nH. In collecting or otherwise acquiring these collections, the\n\nmuseum shall comply with state laws and rules and except as\n\notherwise provided by law, all federal laws and rules concerning\n\nwildlife, archaeology and agriculture. Any permits issued by other\n\nstate institutions, departments, surveys, and agencies for\n\ncollecting, and quarantine, of such wildlife and agriculture and\nhout the world.\n\nH. In collecting or otherwise acquiring these collections, the\n\nmuseum shall comply with state laws and rules and except as\n\notherwise provided by law, all federal laws and rules concerning\n\nwildlife, archaeology and agriculture. Any permits issued by other\n\nstate institutions, departments, surveys, and agencies for\n\ncollecting, and quarantine, of such wildlife and agriculture and\n\ncollecting such archaeology shall be granted for said museum for\n\nresearch, study or collecting efforts on state lands or within state\n\njurisdiction if such collecting or quarantine does not pose a\n\nsignificant threat to the survival of endangered wild species,\n\nhabitats, or ecosystems.\n\nI. The museum shall develop exhibitions and conduct educational\n\nprograms which illustrate, interpret, and explain the natural\n\nhistory of the state and region and bring a greater understanding of\n\nour world to the people of Oklahoma. The museum shall disseminate\n\ninformation of such programs through technical and popular\n\npublications whose production shall be under the control and\n\njurisdiction of the Director. The museum shall also maintain a\n\nlibrary of publications pertaining to the work of the museum.\n\nJ. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall be housed in\n\nbuildings offering appropriate shelter to the artifacts and\n\nspecimens comprising such collections, while also offering\n\nappropriate and adequate space for exhibition, collection, storage,\n\nresearch, preparation, education and teaching activities.\n\nK. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall maintain a\n\nfull-time professional and support staff to ensure the continued\n\nmaintenance and study of the collections preserved in trust for the\n\npeople of Oklahoma.","path":["OK Code","Title 70"],"source_url":"https://www.oklegislature.gov/OK_Statutes/CompleteTitles/os70.pdf","current_through":"2026-08-14","vintage":"open-us-law v2026.08, retrieved 2026-09-14","retrieved_at":"2026-09-14T18:32:36Z","sha256":"654b054d972dccfb535444b0be0675da63111e8e0f4d377d1738ea3262b07fd8","source_id":"us-ok","stale":false,"prev":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-70-70-3308.1","next":"us-ok/okla.-stat.-tit.-70-70-3310"},"notice":"GroundRules: Original legal text. Not legal advice."}