Sec. 81.502.  POWERS AND DUTIES.  To the extent necessary to carry out the purposes of this subchapter, the department may:
(1)  determine the acceptance or rejection of state scientific areas proposed for incorporation into a state system of scientific areas;
(2)  make and publish all rules and regulations necessary for the management and protection of scientific areas;
(3)  cooperate and contract with any agencies, organizations, or individuals for the purposes of this subchapter;
(4)  accept gifts, grants, devises, and bequests of money, securities, or property to be used in accordance with the tenor of such gift, grant, devise, or bequest;
(5)  formulate policies for the selection, acquisition, management, and protection of state scientific areas;
(6)  negotiate for and approve the dedication of state scientific areas as part of the system;
(7)  advocate research, investigations, interpretive programs, and publication and dissemination of information pertaining to state scientific areas and related areas of scientific value;
(8)  acquire interests in real property by purchase;  and
(9)  hold and manage lands within the system.
Acts 1975, 64th Leg., p. 1405, ch. 545, Sec. 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1975.