(a) The Governor shall designate the State Historic Preservation Officer who shall be an employee of the Department of Arkansas Heritage.
(b) The State Historic Preservation Officer shall be responsible for conducting relations with the representatives of the federal government, the respective states, governmental units within Arkansas, state agencies, organizations, and individuals with regard to matters of historic preservation.
(c) The State Historic Preservation Officer is charged with the responsibility for the professional and fiscal conduct of the Arkansas Historic Preservation Program, including the program carried out under 54 U.S.C. § 302301 et seq.