The commissioner shall administer and enforce the provisions of this article and shall have and may exercise any and all of the administrative powers conferred upon the head of a department of the state. The commissioner is authorized to employ, pursuant to section 13 of article XII of the state constitution, such deputies and inspectors as he may deem necessary for the proper enforcement of this article, subject to the constitution and laws of the state. The powers and duties given to and imposed upon the commissioner are also given to and imposed upon the deputies and inspectors when acting under the instructions and at the direction of the commissioner.