No pine timber or other timber products shall be removed from any lands owned by the State of Oklahoma, except for public utilities and improvements, and no officer, employee or any other person employed by the State of Oklahoma shall authorize such removal, except upon written approval of the Director of Forestry. In carrying out the duties of this section said Director is hereby authorized to delegate authority to such persons as he may deem qualified to act in his behalf.

Any person violating this section shall be guilty of a felony and upon conviction be punished, for the first offense by a fine not exceeding One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for not exceeding one (1) year, or by both such fine and imprisonment. For any subsequent offense, such person shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) or by imprisonment in the State Penitentiary for not exceeding three (3) years, or by both such fine and imprisonment.

Laws 1971, c. 349, § 309, emerg. eff. June 24, 1971; Amended by Laws 1997, c. 133, § 101 (effective date amended to July 1, 1999, by Laws 1998, 1st Extr. Sess., c. 2, §§ 23-26, eff. June 19, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1999, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1009, § 37, emerg. eff. July 1, 1999 (superseded document available ).