A. The county clerk of each county or an employee of that office so designated by the county clerk shall be the county purchasing agent. Provided, in counties having a county budget board created pursuant to the County Budget Act, the board may, upon an affirmative vote of a majority of all the board members then in office, appoint a county purchasing agent. In the event the board does not appoint a county purchasing agent, the county clerk or an employee of that office so designated by the county clerk shall be the county purchasing agent. The county purchasing agent shall be under the general supervision and direction of the appointing authority.

B. All persons serving as county purchasing agents on July 1, 1989, shall attend training seminars sponsored by the Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service prior to July 1, 1990. The training seminars will cover the terminology, concepts, customs and practices of the sellers of supplies, materials, equipment and information technology and telecommunications goods commonly purchased for the county. All county purchasing agents appointed after July 1, 1989, shall attend the training seminars within one (1) year of their appointment.

C. The county purchasing agent shall be authorized necessary assistants to carry out the duties and responsibilities provided by law and as may be delegated by the appointing authority. Provided, the employment of such assistants shall be upon the approval of the appointing authority. The salary of the county purchasing agent and assistants shall be fixed by the appointing authority. Provided, if the county clerk is the county purchasing agent, the salary of the county clerk shall remain as provided by law.

D. The county purchasing agent shall, at the expense of the county, be authorized adequate office space, furnishings, equipment and supplies to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the county purchasing agent as provided by law and as may be delegated by the appointing authority. Provided, the acquisition of such furnishings, equipment and supplies shall be upon the approval of the appointing authority, and the acquisition of office space shall be upon the approval of the board of county commissioners.

Added by Laws 1982, c. 249, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 1983. Amended by Laws 1989, c. 286, § 3, operative July 1, 1989; Laws 2008, c. 40, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2008; Laws 2013, c. 358, § 1, eff. July 1, 2013.