reglab/housing_qa huggingface dataset:
2 OK Stat § 2-16-2 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-2. Definitions.

|As used in the Oklahoma Forestry Code: |1. “Director” means the Director of Forestry of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry;2. “Division” means the Forestry Division of the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry;3. “Established property line” means any boundary line which has been:a.recognized by adjoining land owners as a boundary and uncontested for at least fifteen (15) years including, but not limited to, fence lines, roads, and natural features,b.established by a registered land surveyor, orc.uncontested for at least fifteen (15) years;4. “Forest rangers” means all employees of the Forestry Division who have responsibilities in forest protection, including laborers, mechanics, and other employees who assist in forest protection;5. “Forest” means a tract of land that is at least ten percent (10%) stocked by trees of any size, whether of commercial or noncommercial species, or formerly having tree cover and not currently developed for nonforest use, including woodlands, woodlots, windbreaks, and shelterbelts;6. “Logging or timber harvesting operations” means the cutting or harvesting of and removal of timber from a site, leaving the root mass intact;7. “Owner” means the possessor of a fee interest, a tenant, lessee, occupant, or other person in lawful control of land;8. “Prescribed burning” means the controlled application by the owner of croplands, rangelands, or forestlands of fire to naturally occurring vegetative fuel under specified environmental conditions and following appropriate precautionary measures, which causes the fire to be confined to a predetermined area and accomplish land management objectives;9. “Timber” means live and dead trees and the profit in any live and dead trees including, but not limited to, bark, foliage, wood, vines, firewood, crossties, and shrubbery;10. “Timber owner” means any person who owns the right to cut or harvest timber at the time the timber is to be cut or harvested, or who legally owns the severed timber;11. “Wildfires” means any fire which is not controlled on forests, grasslands, fields, or croplands; and12. “Wild lands” means any undeveloped lands regardless of kind of vegetative plant cover including forests, prairies, marshes, and swamps.Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 102, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 1995, c. 238, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1995. Renumbered from Title 2, § 1301-102 by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 208, § 2, emerg. eff. May 14, 2001; Laws 2001, c. 440, § 2, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2007, c. 195, § 1, emerg. eff. May 31, 2007.NOTE: Laws 2001, c. 113, § 4 repealed by Laws 2001, c. 440, § 6, eff. July 1, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-3 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-3. Forestry program - Responsibilities.

|The State Board of Agriculture shall institute a broad program of education and action in the protection, reforestation, harvesting, and wise use of forests and their products throughout Oklahoma under the provisions the Board shall adopt. These provisions shall include the need for trees and forests to meet the increasing demands for forest products for human consumption, the necessity of environmental improvement to filter out noise and dirt, clean and replenish the atmosphere, to conserve soil, water and wildlife, and to provide outdoor recreation for healthful living. The Board shall administer silviculture best management practices in cooperation with forestry land users under the provisions of state and federal water pollution laws that include the process to identify silviculturally related nonpoint sources of pollution as defined by the Oklahoma Environmental Quality Code and, to the extent feasible, establish procedures and methods to control these sources. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 103, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 1981, c. 174, § 1; Laws 1993, c. 145, § 351, eff. July 1, 1993; Laws 2001, c. 113, § 5, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-103 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-4 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-4. Duties of Board.

|It shall be the duty of the State Board of Agriculture under terms the Board determines shall best serve the public interest to assist and cooperate with federal and state departments, educational institutions, counties, towns, corporations, or individuals; to gather and disseminate information about forests, their care and management; to prevent and extinguish wildfires; to enforce all laws pertaining to forests and woodlands; and to monitor the health, inventory, and condition of the state’s forest resources. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 104, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 6, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-104 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Amended by Laws 2006, c. 209, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2007, c. 195, § 2, emerg. eff. May 31, 2007.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-5 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-5. Forestry Division - Other enforcement agencies.

|The laws of this state relating to forestry activities shall be implemented, enforced, and carried out by the State Board of Agriculture through a division of the State Department of Agriculture to be known as the Forestry Division. Other law enforcement agencies of the state shall assist in the prevention, suppression, and investigation of fires, and the enforcement of the Oklahoma Forestry Code. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 105, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 7, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-105 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-6 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-6. Interfering with, molesting or assaulting firefighters - Penalty.

|Any person or persons acting in concert who knowingly and willfully interfere with, molest, or assault forest rangers or firefighters in the performance of their duties, or who knowingly and willfully obstruct, interfere with, or impede the progress of forest rangers or firefighters to reach the destination of a fire, or who damage or destroy any vehicles or equipment used to reach or extinguish a fire shall be guilty of a felony. |Added by Laws 1998, c. 300, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 8, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-105.1 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-7 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-7. Director of Forestry - Qualifications - Employment of personnel.

|The administrative head of the Forestry Division shall be the Director of Forestry, who shall be a professional forester and be qualified as required by the State Board of Agriculture. Other professional, technical, and practical personnel necessary to discharge the responsibilities of the Forestry Division shall be employed by the Director of Forestry, subject to the approval of the Board. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 106, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 9, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-106 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-9 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-9. Payroll deductions for residence maintenance expenses.

|The State Board of Agriculture is authorized to make payroll deductions for maintenance from Forestry Division employees living in residences located on land owned or leased by the Board. Within the next month following payroll deductions, the Board shall deposit these funds in the State Department of Agriculture Revolving Fund created by Section 2-10 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The expenditure of these funds for maintenance shall be limited to repairs, upkeep, and other expenses associated with the residences owned or leased by the Board. |Added by Laws 1984, c. 296, § 62, operative July 1, 1984. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 11, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-108 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-10 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-10. Authorization of forestry cost-share program.

|The State Board of Agriculture is authorized to establish and administer a forestry cost-share program. The forestry cost-share program shall provide monies to private landowners for the purpose of implementing forest conservation or management practices on the land as described in forest management plans approved by the Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture or meeting certain standards established by the Commissioner. The Board shall promulgate rules governing the cost-share program. |Added by Laws 1996, c. 19, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 1996. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 12, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-109 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-11 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-11. Forestry Cost-Share Fund.

|A. There is created within the State Treasury a cost-share fund for the State Board of Agriculture to be designated the "Forestry Cost-Share Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by the Board to implement and maintain the forestry cost-share program. |B. The Forestry Cost-Share Fund shall consist of:1. Money received by the Oklahoma Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry in the form of gifts, grants, reimbursements, donations, forest industry contributions, funds allocated by federal agencies for landowner forestry cost-share programs, and other monies specifically designated for the forestry cost-share program. All monies accruing to the credit of the fund are appropriated and may be budgeted and expended by the Board for the forestry cost-share program; and2. Interest attributable to investment of money in the Forestry Cost-Share Fund.C. All donations or other proceeds received by the Department pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be deposited with the State Treasurer to be credited to the Forestry Cost-Share Fund. Expenditures from the fund shall be made upon warrants issued by the State Treasurer against claims filed as prescribed by law with the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for approval and payment.D. The monies deposited in the Forestry Cost-Share Fund shall at no time become part of the general budget of the Department or any other state agency. Except for any administration costs incurred in development and implementation of the forestry cost-share program, no monies from the Fund shall be transferred for any purpose to any other state agency or any account of the Board or Department or be used for the purpose of contracting with any other state agency or reimbursing any other state agency for any expense.Added by Laws 1996, c. 19, § 2, eff. Nov. 1, 1996. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 13, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-110 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 12.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-12 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-12. Application for and allocation of cost-share funds.

|A. The State Department of Agriculture may require eligible applicants to submit information, forms, and reports necessary to properly and efficiently administer the forestry cost-share program. |B. Persons may apply to the Commissioner of the State Department of Agriculture for cost-share funds to improve forest lands in the State of Oklahoma, in accordance with rules promulgated by the State Board of Agriculture. To be eligible, landowners shall follow a written forest management plan that has been prepared by a professional forester and approved by the Commissioner or that meets standards established by the Commissioner. Applications for funds shall be approved or denied by the Department in accordance with criteria promulgated by the Board.C. The Commissioner shall allocate monies from the Fund to eligible landowners on a matching basis.Added by Laws 1996, c. 19, § 3, eff. Nov. 1, 1996. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 14, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-111 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-21 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-21. Organization of protection areas.

|The Division shall organize forest protection areas to prevent, detect, and suppress wildfires most effectively, and may employ forest rangers to have charge of its activities in each area; may subdivide each area into patrol areas; may construct lookout towers, roads, bridges, firelines, office facilities, and communication facilities; may purchase tools for firefighting as well as other necessary supplies and equipment; and may carry on all activities necessary to protect the area effectively from fires. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 201, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 16, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-201 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-22 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-22. Road crews to extinguish fires.

|Every member of a road construction or maintenance crew, whether employed by the State Highway Department or county commissioners of any county, and every road contractor or subcontractor of the Highway Department or county commissioners and their employees shall keep all fires under control and confined to the right-of-way of any state, county or public road, or highway on and adjacent to which the crew, contractor, subcontractor, and employees are employed. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 202, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 17, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-202 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-23 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-23. Adoption of rules for road crews.

|The State Department of Highways and the county commissioners of the several counties of this state shall require their construction and maintenance crews, contractors, subcontractors, and employees to comply with the provisions of the Oklahoma Forestry Code, and the highway department or county commissioners may adopt and promulgate rules for the observance of the crews, contractors, subcontractors, and employees in carrying out the purposes and provisions of the Oklahoma Forestry Code. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 203, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 18, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-203 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-24 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-24. Refusal of road crews.

|Any road foreman or member of a road construction or maintenance crew, or any foreman, superintendent, or employee of any road contractor or subcontractor, who shall, without sufficient cause, willfully refuse or neglect to prevent and suppress fires as provided in the Oklahoma Forestry Code shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and upon conviction shall be punished by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or by both. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 204, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 19, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-204 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-24.1 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-24.1. Lawful burning.

|A. It shall be lawful for an owner of croplands, rangelands, grasslands, forestlands, or other wild lands to set the croplands, rangelands, grasslands, forestlands, or other wild lands on fire for the purposes of: |1. Managing and manipulating plant species present whether grass, weeds, brush, or trees; and2. Destroying detrimental or unwanted plants, plant parts, shrubs or trees on the croplands, rangelands, grasslands, forestlands, or other wild lands; and3. Cedar tree eradication.B. The provisions of this section shall not be construed to exempt or release a person from civil liability for damages or injury incurred as a result of the burn or for criminal liability as imposed pursuant to the Oklahoma Forestry Code.Added by Laws 2001, c. 208, § 3, emerg. eff. May 14, 2001. Amended by Laws 2006, c. 268, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2006; Laws 2007, c. 195, § 4, emerg. eff. May 31, 2007.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-25 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-25. Unlawful burning.

|A. It is unlawful for any person to carelessly or willfully burn or cause to be burned or to set fire to or cause any fire to be set to any forest, grass, crops, rangeland, or other wild lands not owned by, duly authorized by the owner or manager, or in the lawful possession of, the person setting the fire or burning the lands or causing the fire to be burned. |B. Any person who carelessly violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both. Any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, or by both.C. Any person who carelessly or willfully burns, causes to be burned, sets fire, or causes fire to be set, any forest, grass, croplands, or woodlands not owned by, duly authorized by the owner or manager, or in lawful possession of, shall be liable in a civil action to any person injured or damaged by a fire to the amount of the injury or damages.Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 205, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 98, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 1999, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 5, § 34, eff. July 1, 1999; Laws 2001, c. 113, § 20, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-205 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Amended by Laws 2007, c. 195, § 5, emerg. eff. May 31, 2007.NOTE: Laws 1998, 1st Ex.Sess., c. 2, § 23 amended the effective date of Laws 1997, c. 133, § 98 from July 1, 1998, to July 1, 1999.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-27 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-27. Camp fires.

|It is unlawful for any person to willfully, negligently, or carelessly build a warming or camp fire and leave the fire unextinguished or allow the fire to spread. Any person who violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 207, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 22, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-207 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-28.1 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-28.1. Procedures to lawfully burn land - Civil and criminal liability.

|A. It is unlawful for any person either willfully or carelessly to burn, cause to be burned, to set fire to, or cause fire to be set to any forest, grass, croplands, rangeland, or other wild lands, by an owner of such property, except under the following circumstances: |1. In protection areas, notification to burn shall be made by the owner to the local office or local representative of the Forestry Division at least four (4) hours in advance and verbal or written approval obtained. In addition to the notification requirements of this paragraph, any owner conducting a limited liability burn in a protected area shall comply with the provisions of Section 16-28.2 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes; or2. Outside protection areas, in order for prescribed or controlled burning to be lawful, an owner shall take reasonable precaution against the spreading of fire to other lands by providing adequate firelines, manpower, and fire fighting equipment for the control of the fire, shall watch over the fire until it is extinguished and shall not permit fire to escape to adjoining land.B. Nothing in this section shall relieve the person from the obligation to confine the fire to the owner's, agent's, or tenant's land.C. The Oklahoma Forestry Code shall not apply to trimming or cutting of trees by public or private utilities for the purpose of eliminating interference with utility lines, poles, or other utility equipment.D. 1. Except as otherwise provided by Section 16-28.2 of this title, any person:a.who, whether by accident, neglect or intent, causes or allows damage or injury to occur to any ranch, buildings, improvements, hay, grass, crops, fencings, timber, marsh, or other property of another person by any fire described and conducted pursuant to this section, shall be civilly responsible for such damage or injury so caused pursuant to Section 16-30 of Title 2 of the Oklahoma Statutes, andb.who carelessly violates this section is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00), by imprisonment for not more than one (1) year, or both.2. In addition to civil liability, any person who willfully violates this section is guilty of a felony punishable by a fine of not more than One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00), by imprisonment for not more than three (3) years, or by both.E. Fire set under the provisions of this section shall not be allowed to spread beyond the control of the person setting the fire and shall be subdued and extinguished.Added by Laws 2007, c. 195, § 7, emerg. eff. May 31, 2007.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-30 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-30. Civil liability.

|Any person violating any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Forestry Code shall be liable for all damages caused by any violation, damages shall be recoverable in any court of competent jurisdiction. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 209, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 24, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-209 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-31 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-31. Rewards.

|The Forestry Division of the State Department of Agriculture may offer and pay rewards for information leading to the arrest and conviction of any person violating any of the provisions of the Oklahoma Forestry Code. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 210, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 25, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-210 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.
2 OK Stat § 2-16-32 (2021)
2021 Oklahoma Statutes|Title 2. Agriculture|§2-16-32. Liability for costs of suppressing fires.

|Whoever willfully or carelessly shall cause an unlawful forest, grass, crops, or woods fire shall, in addition to all other penalties provided by law, be liable for payment of all reasonable costs and expenses incurred in suppressing the fire. The costs and expenses shall be payable to the Forestry Division or other governmental units, who shall, in the case of cooperating persons, disburse the funds in proportionate share based on standard suppression costs. When the costs and expenses are not paid within ninety (90) days after written notice of demand, it shall be the duty of the district attorney having jurisdiction to take proper legal proceedings for collection. The liability for costs of suppression shall exist whether there is criminal prosecution or not and the liability shall extend to the person or persons causing, directing, or permitting the activity as well as to the actual violator. |Added by Laws 1971, c. 349, § 212, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 26, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001. Renumbered from § 1301-212 of this title by Laws 2001, c. 113, § 56, emerg. eff. April 18, 2001.