§ 106-1013.  Powers and duties.

(a) The Commissioner shall have the powers and duties to administer the provisions of this Article.

(b) The Department shall serve as the disbursing agency for funds to be expended from and deposited to the credit of the Forest Development Fund.

(c) Subject to the limitations set forth in G.S. 106-1018(d), the Commissioner is authorized to employ administrative, clerical and field personnel to support the program created by this Article and to compensate such employees from the Forest Development Fund for services rendered in direct support of the program.

(d) The Commissioner is authorized to purchase equipment for the implementation of this program from the Forest Development Fund subject to the limitations of G.S. 106-1018(e). All equipment purchased with these funds will be assigned to and used only for the forest development program, except for emergency use in forest fire suppression and other activities relating to the protection of life or property. The Forest Development Fund will be reimbursed from other program funds for equipment costs incurred during such emergency use. (1977, c. 562, s. 4; 2011-145, s. 13.25(gg), (hh).)