§18-30-5. Powers of the board to administer the College Savings Program.

(a) The board shall administer the College Savings Program in accordance with this article and 26 U.S.C. § 529.

(b) The board shall offer and issue interests in the Savings Plan Trust to eligible members of the public.

(c) The board is authorized to take any lawful action necessary to effectuate the provisions of this article and successfully administer the program, subject to applicable state and federal law, including, but not limited to, the following:

(1) Adopt and amend bylaws;

(2) Execute contracts and other instruments for necessary goods and services, employ necessary personnel, and engage the services of private consultants, auditors, counsel, managers, trustees, and any other contractor or professional needed for rendering professional and technical assistance and advice: Provided, That selection of these services is not subject to the provisions of §5A-3-1 et seq. of this code: Provided, however, That all expenditures and monetary and financial transactions may be subject to periodic audits by the Legislative Auditor;

(3) Implement the program through use of financial organizations as account depositories and managers, as provided in §18-30-6 of this code;

(4) Develop and impose requirements, policies, procedures, and guidelines to implement and manage the program;

(5) Establish the method by which funds shall be allocated to pay for administrative costs and assess, collect, and expend administrative fees, charges, and penalties;

(6) Authorize the assessment, collection, and retention of fees and charges against the amounts paid into and the earnings on the trust funds by a financial institution, investment manager, fund manager, West Virginia Investment Management Board, the Board of Treasury Investments, or other professional managing or investing the trust funds and accounts;

(7) Invest and reinvest any of the funds and accounts under the board’s control with a financial institution, an investment manager, a fund manager, the West Virginia Investment Management Board, the Board of Treasury Investments, or other professional investing the funds and accounts: Provided, That investments made under this article shall be made in accordance with the provisions of §44-6C-1 et seq. of this code;

(8) Solicit and accept gifts, including bequests or other testamentary gifts made by will, trust, or other disposition; grants; loans; aid; and property, real or personal of any nature and from any source, or to participate in any other way in any federal, state, or local governmental programs in carrying out the purposes of this article: Provided, That the board shall use the property received to effectuate the desires of the donor, and shall convert the property received into cash within 90 days of receipt;

(9) Make all necessary and appropriate arrangements with eligible educational institutions in order to fulfill its obligations under the savings plan contracts; and

(10) Propose legislative rules for promulgation in accordance with §29A-3-1 et seq. of this code, including emergency rules when necessary.

(d) The power and duties of the board provided in this article are in addition to the powers and duties of the board provided in §18-30A-1 et seq. of this code.