§ 36-1-503 — Powers and duties of state forester

(a) The state forester shall:
(i) Administer the account;
(ii) Ensure that all funds generated from good
neighbor authority projects or other federally funded
cooperative forest management projects are deposited in the
account;
(iii) Enter into contracts on behalf of the division
for good neighbor authority projects or other federally funded
cooperative forest management projects funded through the
account;
(iv) Adopt rules governing the administration of the
account and to carry out the purposes of this article;
(v) Have the authority to partner with one (1) or
more counties on good neighbor authority projects or other
cooperative forest management projects and disburse funds from
the account for these purposes.
(b) The state forester may hire additional employees as
necessary to conduct good neighbor authority projects or other
federally funded cooperative forest management projects funded
through the account. Employees hired under this subsection shall
be funded using federal funds deposited in the account. The
state forester shall not fill more than four (4) full-time
employee positions and six (6) at-will employee contract
positions under this subsection.