A. The Commissioner of the State Board of Agriculture may commission, subject to the approval of the Board, agriculture law enforcement agents.

B. Agriculture law enforcement agents, when commissioned, shall:

1. Have all the powers of peace officers except the serving or execution of civil process other than the execution of civil process related to the Oklahoma Agricultural Code;

2. Have in all parts of the state the same powers with respect to criminal matters and enforcement of the laws relating thereto as sheriffs, highway patrol, and police officers in their respective jurisdictions;

3. Enforce the civil, criminal, and administrative provisions relating to livestock theft, animal health and importation statutes and theft of farming equipment and farm implements, as well as any other law contained in the Oklahoma Agricultural Code;

4. Possess all immunities and matters of defense now available or hereafter made available to sheriffs, highway patrol and police officers in any suit brought against them in consequence of acts done in the course of their employment; and

5. Comply with the provisions of Section 3311 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

C. Agriculture law enforcement agents specifically:

1. Are vested with the power and authority of sheriffs in making arrests for violations of the Oklahoma Agricultural Code and in the enforcement of nonagriculture-related crimes in cooperation with other law enforcement officers and agencies as authorized by the Board and approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma;

2. May take into possession any farming equipment or farm implement and any and all livestock, or any part thereof, killed, taken, shipped or had in possession contrary to the law. Such livestock or parts thereof may be disposed of as determined by the Commissioner or any court of competent jurisdiction;

3. May make a complaint and cause proceedings to be commenced against any person for violation of any of the laws relating to the Oklahoma Agricultural Code or relating to theft of livestock and of farming equipment or farm implements, with the sanction of the prosecuting or district attorney of the county in which the proceedings are brought, and shall not be required to give security for costs;

4. In connection with the enforcement of the civil, criminal, and administrative provisions, shall have the express authority to stop the transportation or movement of any animal or farming equipment or farm implement within this state and shall have the right to enter upon all premises, posted, or otherwise, when necessary for enforcement of the laws of this state;

5. Shall be under the control and direction of the Commissioner. The Commissioner may, at any time, remove any powers or authority of arrest conferred by the Commissioner; and

6. Shall have the right to carry firearms as authorized by the Commissioner.

Added by Laws 2001, c. 430, § 5, eff. Nov. 1, 2001. Amended by Laws 2007, c. 157, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 2007.