§16B-9-3. Powers, duties, and rights of Inspector General.

In the administration of this article, the Inspector General may:

(1) Enforce rules and standards for residential care communities as adopted, proposed, amended, or modified by the Inspector General;

(2) Exercise all powers granted herein relating to the issuance, suspension, and revocation of licenses of residential care communities;

(3) Enforce rules governing the qualification of applicants for residential care community licenses, including, but not limited to, educational, financial, personal, and ethical requirements, as adopted, proposed, amended, or modified by the Inspector General;

(4) Receive and disburse federal funds and to take any lawful action that is necessary or appropriate to comply with the requirements and conditions for the receipt or expenditure of federal funds;

(5) Receive and disburse funds appropriated by the Legislature to the division for any authorized purpose;

(6) Receive and disburse funds obtained by the division by way of gift, grant, donation, bequest, or devise, according to the terms thereof, funds derived from the division’s operation, and funds from any other source, no matter how derived, for any authorized purpose;

(7) Negotiate and enter into contracts, and to execute all instruments necessary or convenient in carrying out the functions and duties of the position of Inspector Director, and all of these contracts, agreements, and instruments shall be executed by the Inspector Director;

(8) Appoint officers, agents, employees, and other personnel and establish the duties and fix the compensation thereof;

(9) Offer and sponsor education and training programs for residential care communities’ administrative, managerial, and operations personnel;

(10) Undertake survey, research, and planning projects and programs relating to the administration and operation of residential care communities and to the health, care, treatment, and service in general of residents of these communities;

(11) Establish by legislative rule in accordance with §16B-9-10 of this code and to assess reasonable civil penalties for violations of residential care community standards;

(12) Inspect any residential care community and any of the records maintained therein, subject to the provisions of §16B-9-10 of this code;

(13) Establish legislative rules in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, setting forth procedures for implementing the provisions of this article, including informal conferences, investigations and hearings, and for enforcing compliance with the provisions of this article and the rules promulgated hereunder;

(14) Subpoena witnesses and documents, administer oaths and affirmations, and examine witnesses. Upon the failure of any person without lawful excuse to obey a subpoena to give testimony and upon reasonable notice to all persons affected thereby, the Inspector General may apply to the circuit court of the county in which the hearing is to be held or to the circuit court of Kanawha County for an order compelling compliance;

(15) Make a complaint or cause proceedings to be instituted against any person or persons for the violation of the provisions of this article or of the rules promulgated hereunder. An action may be taken by the Inspector General in the absence of concurrence or participation by the prosecuting attorney of the county in which the proceedings are instituted. The Circuit Court of Kanawha County or the circuit court of the county in which the violation has occurred has jurisdiction in any civil enforcement action brought pursuant to this article and may order equitable relief. In these cases, the court may not require that a bond be posted, nor may the Inspector General or any person acting under his or her authority be required to give security for costs;

(16) Delegate authority to his or her employees and agents in the performance of any power or duty granted in this article, except the issuance of final decisions in any adjudicatory matter; and

(17) Make available at all times online access through the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification website the following information. The online information shall describe the residential care community licensing and investigatory activities of the division. The online information shall include a list of all residential care communities and the following information: Whether the residential care communities are proprietary or nonproprietary, the name of the administrator or administrators, the total number of beds; license type, license number, license expiration date, health investigations information and reports, life safety investigations information and reports, and whether those residential care communities listed accept Medicare or Medicaid residents.

(18) The Inspector General designates the Director of the Office of Health Facility Licensure and Certification to enforce the provisions of this article, except where otherwise stated.