1. A. Effective July 1, 1994, there is hereby created the Office of Juvenile Affairs. Within the Office of Juvenile Affairs there is hereby created:

   1. 1. The Department of Juvenile Justice which shall be responsible for programs and services for juveniles alleged or adjudicated to be delinquent or in need of supervision. The Executive Director of the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall appoint a Deputy Director of the Department of Juvenile Justice to serve as the administrative head of the Department; and
   2. 2. Such other Departments specifically established by law.
2. B. Suitable office space shall be provided by the Department of Central Services to the Office of Juvenile Affairs, to the extent necessary for the Office to implement its jurisdictional duties provided by the Oklahoma Juvenile Code, and the Office may incur necessary expenses for office rent.
3. C. Effective July 1, 1995, the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall be a Merit System agency and all employees of the Office of Juvenile Affairs shall be classified employees who are subject to the Oklahoma Personnel Act and the Merit System of Personnel Administration, except as otherwise provided by law.

4. D. Effective July 1, 1995, within its jurisdictional areas of responsibility, the Office of Juvenile Affairs, acting through the Executive Director, or persons authorized by law, rule or designated by the Executive Director to perform such acts, shall have the power and duty to:

   1. 1. Advise, consult, cooperate and enter into agreements with agencies of the state, municipalities and counties, other states and the federal government, and other persons;
   2. 2. Enter into agreements for, accept, administer and use, disburse and administer grants of money, personnel and property from the federal government or any department or agency thereof, or from any state or state agency, or from any other source, to promote and carry on in this state any program within its jurisdictional area of responsibility;
   3. 3. Require the establishment and maintenance of records and reports;
   4. 4. Establish a system of training for personnel in order to assure uniform statewide application of law and rules;
   5. 5. Enforce the provisions of the Oklahoma Juvenile Code and rules promulgated thereunder and orders issued pursuant thereto;
   6. 6. Charge and receive fees pursuant to fee schedules promulgated by the Board of Juvenile Affairs;
   7. 7. Conduct studies, research and planning of programs and functions, pursuant to the authority granted by the Oklahoma Juvenile Code;
   8. 8. Enter into interagency agreements;
   9. 9. Provide administrative and support services to the Board of Juvenile Affairs as necessary to assist the Board in the performance of their duties;
   10. 10. Establish and maintain such facilities and institutions as are necessary or convenient for the operation of programs for children under the jurisdiction of the Office of Juvenile Affairs;
   11. 11. Lease, from time to time, any real property which the Board of Juvenile Affairs shall determine advisable to more fully carry into effect the operation of the Office of Juvenile Affairs in accordance with applicable state statutes. All such leases for real property shall be subject to the provisions of Section 63 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes;
   12. 12. Purchase or lease any equipment, supplies or materials pursuant to the Oklahoma Central Purchasing Act;
   13. 13. Contract for professional services;
   14. 14. Acquire, construct, extend, and operate any and all facilities of all kinds which in the judgment of the Executive Director and the approval of the Legislature shall be necessary or convenient to carry out the duties of the Office of Juvenile Affairs, as authorized by law; and
   15. 15. Exercise all incidental powers which are necessary and proper to implement and administer the purposes of the Oklahoma Juvenile Code.
5. E. The Office of Juvenile Affairs shall maintain a fair, simple and expeditious system for resolution of grievances of all persons committed to the Office of Juvenile Affairs regarding the substance or application of any written or unwritten policy, rule of the Board of Juvenile Affairs or of an agent or contractor of the Office of Juvenile Affairs or any decision, behavior or action by an employee, agent or contractor or by any other person committed to the Office of Juvenile Affairs.

Laws 1994, HB 2640, c. 290, § 8, emerg. eff. July 1, 1994; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1978, c. 352, § 75, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995; Renumbered from 10 O.S. § 1507.5 by Laws 1995, HB 1978, c. 352, § 199, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995.