Okla. Stat. tit. 2, § 2-18-34

A. There is hereby created, to continue until July 1, 2010, in

accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the

Oklahoma Beef Council.

B. The Oklahoma Beef Council shall:

1. Promote the sale and use of beef and beef products, support

national beef promotion, research, education, and other consumer

marketing activities related to beef and cattle production, and

otherwise support consumer market development and promotion efforts

on a national and international scale;

2. Develop new uses and markets for beef and beef products;

3. Develop and improve methods of distributing beef and beef

products to the consumer;

4. Develop methods of improving the quality and safety of beef

and beef products for consumer benefit;

5. Inform and educate the public of the nutritive, safety, and

economic values of beef and beef products;

6. Function in a liaison capacity with the beef and other food

industries of the state and elsewhere in matters that would increase

efficiencies ultimately benefiting the consumer and the industry;

7. Receive and disburse funds for use in administering and

implementing the provisions and intent of the Oklahoma Beef

Improvement and Market Development Act;

8. Annually elect a chairperson from among its members who may

be reelected for not more than one one-year term;

9. Meet regularly, but in no case shall meet less than one time

per calendar quarter, at any other times as called by the Chair, or

upon request by three or more members of the Council;

10. Maintain a permanent record of all business proceedings;

11. Maintain a permanent and detailed record of all financial

dealings;

12. Prepare periodic reports and an annual report of all

activities for each fiscal year, for review by the beef cattle

industry of the state. The annual report shall be filed with the

Chair of the Senate Agriculture and Rural Development Committee or

successor committee, the Chair of the House Agriculture Committee or

successor committee, the Commissioner of the Oklahoma Department of

Agriculture, Food, and Forestry, and the Governor;

13. Prepare periodic reports and an annual accounting for each

fiscal year of all receipts and expenditures for review of the beef

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 2. Agriculture Page 636

cattle industry of the state and provide for annual audits conducted

by a certified public accounting firm;

14. Adopt and promulgate rules pursuant to the Administrative

Procedures Act, with the assistance of the Oklahoma Department of

Agriculture, Food, and Forestry if requested by the Council, for

implementation of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market

Development Act;

15. Maintain an office at a specific location in Oklahoma that

is accessible to beef producers and conducive to operating the

programs of the Council; and

16. Have such other powers and duties to implement the Oklahoma

Beef Improvement and Market Development Act.

C. The Council may:

1. Conduct or contract for scientific research with any

accredited university, college, or similar institution and enter

into other contracts or agreements that aid in carrying out the

purposes of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development

Act, including, but not limited to, contracts for the purchase or

acquisition of facilities, advertising, or equipment;

2. Disseminate reliable information benefiting consumers and

the beef cattle industry on subjects including, but not limited to,

purchase, identification, care, storage, handling, cookery,

preparation, serving size or portion, and nutritional value of beef

and beef products;

3. Provide information to various governmental bodies, upon

request, on subjects of concern to the beef industry and act jointly

or in cooperation with the state or federal government, and agencies

thereof, in the development or administration of programs deemed by

the Council as consistent with the objectives of the Oklahoma Beef

Improvement and Market Development Act;
f

and beef products;

3. Provide information to various governmental bodies, upon

request, on subjects of concern to the beef industry and act jointly

or in cooperation with the state or federal government, and agencies

thereof, in the development or administration of programs deemed by

the Council as consistent with the objectives of the Oklahoma Beef

Improvement and Market Development Act;

4. Cause any civil action to be filed to enforce the provisions

of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market Development Act;

5. Appoint advisory groups composed of representatives from

organizations, institutions, governments, or business related to or

interested in the welfare of the beef industry and the consuming

public;

6. Employ an Executive Director and employees of the Council

and prescribe their duties and fix their compensation and terms of

employment;

7. Cooperate with any local, state, regional or nationwide

organization or agency engaged in work or activities consistent with

the objectives of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and Market

Development Act; and

8. Cause any duly authorized agent or representative of the

Council to enter upon the premises of any market agent with proper

warrants and examine or require examination of only those books,

papers, and records associated in any way with payments of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 2. Agriculture Page 637

assessments or enforcement of the Oklahoma Beef Improvement and

Market Development Act. It shall be incumbent upon the Council to

make appropriate arrangements with the persons being examined to

ensure that an orderly examination is made that does not impede on

the person's normal course of business.

D. Members of the Council shall not be individually liable for

acts of the Council when acting within the scope of the Council's

powers and in the manner prescribed by the laws of the state;