§30-8-5. Powers and duties of the board.

(a) The board has all the powers and duties set forth in this article, by rule, in article one of this chapter and elsewhere in law.

(b) The board shall:

(1) Hold meetings, conduct hearings and administer examinations;

(2) Establish requirements for licenses, certificates and permits;

(3) Establish procedures for submitting, approving and rejecting applications for licenses, certificates and permits;

(4) Determine the qualifications of any applicant for licenses, certificates and permits;

(5) Prepare, conduct, administer and grade examinations for licenses;

(6) Determine the passing grade for the examinations;

(7) Maintain records of the examinations by the board or a third party administer, including the number of persons taking the examinations and the pass and fail rate;

(8) Hire, discharge, establish the job requirements and fix the compensation of the executive secretary;

(9) Maintain an office and hire, discharge, establish the job requirements and fix the compensation of employees, investigators and contracted employees necessary to enforce the provisions of this article;

(10) Investigate alleged violations of the provisions of this article, legislative rules, orders and final decisions of the board;

(11) Conduct disciplinary hearings of persons regulated by the board;

(12) Determine disciplinary action and issue orders;

(13) Institute appropriate legal action for the enforcement of the provisions of this article;

(14) Maintain an accurate registry of names and addresses of all licensees regulated by the board;

(15) Keep accurate and complete records of its proceedings, and certify the same as may be necessary and appropriate;

(16) Establish the continuing education requirements for licensees;

(17) Issue, renew, combine, deny, suspend, revoke or reinstate licenses, certificates and permits;

(18) Establish a fee schedule;

(19) Propose rules in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this article; and

(20) Take all other actions necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this article.

(c) The board may:

(1) Contract with third parties to administer the examinations required under the provisions of this article;

(2) Sue and be sued in its official name as an agency of this state; and

(3) Confer with the Attorney General or his or her assistant in connection with legal matters and questions.