§21-5C-6. Duties and powers of commissioner of labor.

(a) It shall be the duty of the commissioner to enforce and administer the provisions of this article and rules promulgated thereunder, and to promulgate such rules and regulations, in accordance with chapter twenty-nine-a of the Code of West Virginia, 1931, as amended, as shall be needful to give effect to the provisions of this article. The commissioner is authorized to promulgate emergency rules prior to January 1, 2015, to implement and administer the amendments made to this article in 2014. If the commissioner makes a finding that a conflict exists between state and federal standards defining employee exemptions, the commissioner is further authorized to promulgate emergency rules prior to January 1, 2015, for the purpose of revising the state standards to conform with federal law.

(b) The commissioner is authorized at reasonable times to enter the place of business of an employer subject to the provisions of this article, for purposes of: (1) Inspecting and examining, and copying, photographing or otherwise reproducing all payroll records of the employer directly relating to wages and hours of employment of persons employed by him or her; (2) questioning or otherwise examining persons employed by the employer on the subject of wages and hours of their employment, and gratuities received or earned in such employment.

(c) The commissioner is authorized and empowered to make investigations to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that any person is an employer as defined in section one of this article, or whether there is reasonable cause to believe that any provision of this article is being or has been violated.

(d) The commissioner is authorized and empowered to file criminal complaints against persons whom the commissioner has reasonable cause to believe have committed any offense created or defined by the provisions of this article.

(e) The commissioner is authorized and empowered to institute civil actions seeking appropriate injunctive relief to compel an employer subject to this article to comply with the provisions of this article.

(f) The commissioner shall enforce and administer the provisions of this article in accordance with chapter twenty-nine-a of this code. The commissioner or his or her authorized representatives are empowered to enter and inspect such places, question such employees and investigate such facts, conditions, or matters as they may deem appropriate, to determine whether any person, firm or corporation has violated any provision of this article, or any rule or regulation issued hereunder or which may aid in the enforcement of the provisions of this article.