Okla. Stat. tit. 2, § 2-5-63.12

The federally approved commodity 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 2. Agriculture Page 212

that are necessary and proper to enable the board to effectively

carry out the purposes of the Commodity Research Enhancement Act;

such employees shall not be considered state employees for any

purpose;

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

of the Commodity Research Enhancement Act;

3. Sue and be sued;

4. Cooperate with local, state or national organizations,

whether public or private, in carrying out the purposes of contracts

as may be necessary;

5. Make such reasonable expenditures of funds as are necessary

to carry out the provisions of the Commodity Research Enhancement

Act;

6. The board shall open its state assessment records to

examination by any participating producer during regular business

hours; provided, the board may determine that certain information

provided by a commodity producer is proprietary and confidential;

7. Set the rate of the state assessment. The rate may not

exceed the maximum established in the election authorizing the state

assessment or a subsequent election establishing a maximum rate;

8. 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 state assessment is levied; and

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

purposes of the Commodity Research Enhancement Act.