1. A. Effective July 1, 1998, the Oklahoma Lake Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety is hereby abolished.
2. B. There is hereby created within the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division of the Department, of Public Safety a Lake Patrol Section which shall consist of such employees as may be necessary to enforce the provisions of Section 4001 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. All commissioned officers of the Lake Patrol Section as designated by the Commissioner shall have the authority to stop and board any vessel subject to Section 4001 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes and make any necessary arrest for violations of Section 4001 et seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes or the rules promulgated by the Department of Public Safety or the Department of Wildlife Conservation or take any other action within their lawful authority. Any statutory references to the Oklahoma Lake Patrol Division shall mean the Lake Patrol Section of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division of the Department, of Public Safety.
3. C. Effective July 1, 1998, all commissioned officers in the Oklahoma Lake Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety and the powers, duties, responsibilities and authority of said Division are hereby transferred to the Lake Patrol Section of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety, as established in subsection B of this section. Each officer classified as a Senior Lake Patrol Officer (DPS) on June 30, 1998, shall be reclassified as a Patrolman, each officer classified as a Supervisor, Lake Patrol Division (DPS) on June 30, 1998, shall be reclassified as a Patrol Supervisor, with the rank of Second Lieutenant, and each officer classified as a Commander, Lake Patrol Division (DPS) on June 30, 1998, shall be reclassified as a Patrol First Lieutenant as established in subsection F of this section.

4. D. After July 1, 1998, any such officer set out in subsection C of this section may request reclassification to the equivalent lateral position, rank and salary within the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division and shall be reclassified to such position if the officer:

   1. 1. Meets the requirements of paragraph 2 of subsection B of Section 2-105 of this title. Provided, such officer shall be exempt from the maximum age limitation;
   2. 2. Satisfactorily completes a course of training as prescribed by the Commissioner; and
   3. 3. Serves a twelve-month probationary period which shall commence upon entering into the course of training required by paragraph 2 of this subsection.
5. E. All commissioned officers of the Lake Patrol Section of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety shall have, in addition to their primary duty as prescribed in subsection B of this section, a secondary duty to enforce all state statutes, to make arrests for violations and to perform other duties as prescribed by the Commissioner.

6. F.

   1. 1. On July 1, 1998, all patrolmen of the Lake Patrol Section shall be assigned to the salary schedule as provided for in paragraph 2 of this subsection to the step nearest the salary the patrolman was earning June 30, 1998. The sole purpose of this paragraph is to assign each patrolman to a step in conformity, with paragraph 2 of this subsection. It is not the intent of this paragraph to modify in any way until January 1, 1999, the salary a patrolman was earning June 30, 1998. Therefore, the annual salary of the patrolman shall not be changed as a result of the new salary schedule and if the salary of the patrolman as of June 30, 1998, does not correspond to one of the new steps, the salary shall remain off step until January 1, 1999.

   2. 2. Effective January 1, 1999, the annual salaries for the commissioned officers within the Lake Patrol Section of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety shall be in accordance and conformity with the following salary schedule, exclusive of longevity pay, as authorized by Section 840-2.18 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, expense allowance, as authorized by Section 2-130 of this title, irregular shift pay, as authorized by Section 2-180.1 of this title:

      Patrol First Lieutenant $53,143.00 Patrol Supervisor $49,206.00 Patrolman Step 1 $25,000.00 Step 2 $26,200.00 Step 3 $27,458.00 Step 4 $28,776.00 Step 5 $30,157.00 Step 6 $31,604.00 Step 7 $33,121.00 Step 8 $34,711.00 Step 9 $36,377.00 Step 10 $38,123.00 Step 11 $39,953.00 Step 12 $41,871.00 Step 13 $43,881.00 Step 14 $45,987.00

   3. 3. On January 1, 1999, each Patrolman shall be assigned and the salary of such Patrolman shall be adjusted to the salary schedule provided for in paragraph 2 of this subsection. Such initial adjustment of salaries shall be to the step which number corresponds to the number of completed years of service said Patrolman has in the commissioned service of the former Lake Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety. Provided, however, no such Patrolman shall receive less than the salary the Patrolman was receiving, on, December 31, 1998. If the number of completed years of service of such Patrolman exceeds fourteen (14) years on January 1, 1999, said Patrolman shall be assigned to, and the salary of the Patrolman adjusted to, Step 14 of said salary schedule.

   4. 4. After January 1, 1999, each Patrolman shall receive upon the anniversary date of the Patrolman an annual salary increase to the next higher step of the salary schedule provided for in paragraph 2 of this subsection if such Patrolman, within the preceding twelve-month period:

      1. a. has achieved a satisfactory Performance Rating Score,
      2. b. has not received any disciplinary action which has resulted in any suspension from the Department for a period of ten (10) or more days, and
      3. c. has not received any disciplinary action which has resulted in demotion.

   5. 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of paragraphs 3 and 4 of this subsection, in any twelve-month period no patrolman shall receive:

      1. a. a salary increase which exceeds an increase to the next higher step of the salary schedule provided for in paragraph 2 of this subsection, or
      2. b. more than one such salary increase to the step of the salary schedule provided for in paragraph 2 of this subsection, unless salary increases are authorized by the Legislature. Provided, however, such Patrolman shall receive the salary increase which results from a promotion to another position within the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division.
   6. 6. The steps prescribed for the position of Patrolman in the salary schedule provided for in paragraph 2 of this subsection are for salary and compensation purposes only. No Patrolman shall be reassigned to another such step of said salary schedule for the purposes of demotion, discipline, promotion, incentive, reward or for any other reason other than the salary increase provided for in paragraph 3, 4, or 5 of this subsection.
   7. 7. The provisions of this section shall supersede all existing laws covering the salaries for the commissioned officers in the Lake Patrol Section of the Oklahoma Highway Patrol Division of the Department of Public Safety.

Laws 1998, HB 3160, c. 245, § 6, emerg. eff. July 1, 1998.