2015 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 2. Agriculture
§2-18-404. Eastern Red Cedar Registry Board - Duties.

A. The Eastern Red Cedar Registry Board shall establish procedures and standards and oversee the following:

1. The administration of the Eastern Red Cedar Registry for Eastern Red Cedar trees in the state. Private landowners in the state may register the location of their property, the level of infestation of Eastern Red Cedar trees on the property, and average size of the trees on the property. The Board shall develop and implement an application and registration process for landowners;

2. Promote the harvesting of Eastern Red Cedar trees. Persons or entities involved in the harvesting of Eastern Red Cedar trees or the manufacturing of products from Eastern Red Cedar trees may apply for registration with the Board. The Board shall develop and implement an application and registration process for harvesters and manufacturers;

3. Maintain harvesting records of Eastern Red Cedar trees in the state;

4. Promote the development of new uses and markets for Eastern Red Cedar trees and Eastern Red Cedar products;

5. Promote marketing, research and education efforts concerning the Eastern Red Cedar tree and Eastern Red Cedar products;

6. Cooperate with any local, state, regional, or nationwide organization or agency engaged in work or activities consistent with the objectives of the Eastern Red Cedar Registry Board Act;

7. Assist communities located in any county in the state to organize and establish community-owned Eastern Red Cedar projects in the community and to recruit and locate private for-profit Eastern Red Cedar businesses in the community including but not limited to harvesting operations, biofuel plants, cedar oil manufacturing facilities, or other cedar product manufacturing facilities. The Board shall assist in securing financing, infrastructure and other resources. The Board shall also provide direction and assistance to the community-based projects and individually owned businesses on steps to take in order to qualify for existing sales tax credits and income tax credits;

8. Provide a process for the transfer of donated Eastern Red Cedar trees from landowners registered with the Board to registered harvesters and manufacturers;

9. Establish a limit on the number of acres of private property and the number of harvesters that may be registered on the registry during a calendar year; and

10. Take any other actions necessary to implement the Eastern Red Cedar Registry Board Act.

B. The Board and all landowners and harvesters registered with the Board shall comply with all applicable provisions of Article 16 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes, known as the Oklahoma Forestry Code, when managing and harvesting Eastern Red Cedar trees.

C. The Board shall annually elect a chair from among the members. The Board shall meet regularly, but in no case shall it meet less than one time per calendar quarter, and shall meet at any other times as called by the chair, or upon request of three or more members of the Board.

D. Upon the availability of funds, the Board shall prepare an annual report of all activities for each fiscal year. The annual report shall be filed with the Governor, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the State Senate.

Added by Laws 2010, c. 454, § 5, eff. July 1, 2010.