§ 15-31-106 - Functions, powers, and duties. - Arkansas Statutes

15-31-106. Functions, powers, and duties.

(a) The functions, powers, and duties of the Arkansas Forestry Commission shall be to:

(1) Cooperate with the Secretary of Agriculture or the secretary's authorized agent, with the Dale Bumpers College of Agricultural, Food and Life Sciences and School of Forest Resources of the University of Arkansas System, with the Arkansas Economic Development Council, with other state agencies, and with farmers, forest owners, and other residents and organizations of the state to achieve the mission of the Arkansas Forestry Commission;

(2) Formulate and put into effect policies, plans, and reasonable rules and regulations as may be necessary to the accomplishment of the purpose stated in subdivision (a)(1) of this section;

(3) Submit annually to the Governor a report of its expenditures, accomplishments, and plans for further work;

(4) Assemble and publicize all available information pertinent to industrial opportunities in forestry, both in respect to particular sections and the state as a whole, including the varieties of trees and the products producible therefrom, the power and water resources, transportation facilities, available markets, labor supply, and industrial sites, all to the end of encouraging both the establishment of new industrial enterprises utilizing forest resources and the expansion of existing enterprises;

(5) Assist private landowners, and when called upon, the agency of state having control of the state park system, in managing their timber under approved forestry practices;

(6) Furnish educational information in forestry matters for land- owners and timber processors, and civic, school, and other interested groups, including the preparation and dissemination, through various available media, of information relating to fire prevention and control, detection and control of disease and insect infestation, and approved methods of timber harvesting and artificial reforestation;

(7) Originate and conduct research in forestry matters and cooperate with other agencies, both public and private, in any such projects;

(8) Purchase, lease, rent, or sell and receive bequests or donations of any real, corporeal, or personal property, and, when necessary to properly carry out its functions, to acquire any real property by the exercise of its right of eminent domain, such right being vested in the Arkansas Forestry Commission;

(9) Contract and be contracted with; and

(10) Take such other action, not inconsistent with law, as it may deem necessary or desirable to carry out the intent and purposes of this chapter.

(b) (1) The Arkansas Forestry Commission shall also have and be subject to all other functions, powers, and duties as by this chapter are conferred and imposed upon it.

(2) For the purpose of regulating its own procedure and carrying out its transferred or newly provided functions, it shall have the authority, from time to time, to make and amend and enforce all reasonable rules or regulations not inconsistent with law which will aid in the performance of any of the functions, powers, or duties conferred or imposed upon it by law.