Sec. 15. (a) The department shall provide the conservation officers of the division the uniforms and equipment necessary to the performance of their duties. All uniforms and equipment remain the property of the state.
(b) The division director shall, with the approval of the director, charge against an employee of the division the value of property lost or destroyed through carelessness or neglect of the employee. The value of the equipment shall be deducted from the pay of the employee.