A. There is hereby created an aviation unit in the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The unit created herein shall have authority of ownership, control, maintenance, and operation of all state-owned aircraft, including helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, used by the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries. The secretary of the Department of Wildlife and Fisheries is authorized to appoint as many employees to the unit as may be permitted by legislative appropriation.
B. The law enforcement employees of the unit shall have the same duties and powers as are provided for other regularly commissioned officers of the enforcement division of the department as provided in R.S. 56:31 through R.S. 56:65 and such other duties and rank as are assigned by the secretary.