(1) In addition to the duties set forth elsewhere in this chapter and in Sections 73-54-1 through 73-54-39, the board is authorized to:

(a) Review the quality and availability of social work services provided in this state and make recommendations for change to the Legislature;

(b) Recommend to the appropriate law enforcement official the bringing of civil actions to seek injunctions and other relief against individuals engaged in the unlicensed practice of social work or marriage and family therapy for violations of this chapter or Sections 73-54-1 through 73-54-39;

(c) Adopt, amend or repeal any rules or regulations necessary to carry out the purposes of this chapter and Sections 73-54-1 through 73-54-39 and the duties and responsibilities of the board;

(d) Examine and determine the qualifications and fitness of applicants for licenses to practice social work and marriage and family therapy in this state and prepare or approve and conduct all examinations of applicants for licensure;

(e) Issue, renew, deny, suspend or revoke licenses to practice social work and marriage and family therapy in this state or otherwise discipline individuals licensed by the board;

(f) Investigate alleged or suspected violations of the provisions of this chapter and Sections 73-54-1 through 73-54-39 or other laws of this state pertaining to social work and marriage and family therapy and any rules and regulations adopted by the board;

(g) Establish reasonable fees for application for examination, certificates of licensure and renewal, and other services provided by the board, not to exceed the amounts specified in Section 73-53-15;

(h) Issue subpoenas for the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of papers, records or other documentary evidence. Any member of the board may administer oaths or affirmations to witnesses appearing before the board. If in any proceeding before the board any witness fails or refuses to attend upon subpoena issued by the board, refuses to testify, or refuses to produce any books and papers the production of which is called for by the subpoena, the attendance of that witness and the giving of his testimony and the production of the books and papers shall be enforced by any court of competent jurisdiction of this state in the manner provided for the enforcement of attendance and testimony of witnesses in civil cases in the courts of this state;

(i) Maintain an office and employ or retain appropriate personnel to carry out the powers and duties of the board;

(j) Adopt a code of ethics for licensed social workers that includes the current National Association of Social Workers Code of Ethics, and a code of ethics for licensed marriage and family therapists that includes the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy Code of Ethics.

(k) Regulate the practice of social work and marriage and family therapy by interpreting and enforcing this chapter and Sections 73-54-1 through 73-54-39;

(l) Provide for the examination and supervision requirements for social workers and marriage and family therapists;

(m) Establish mechanisms for assessing the continuing professional competence of social workers and marriage and family therapists;

(n) Set criteria for continuing education;

(o) Establish and collect fees for sustaining the necessary operation and expenses of the board;

(p) Publish, at least annually, final disciplinary actions against licensees;

(q) Report final disciplinary action taken against a licensee to other state or federal regulatory agencies and to a national disciplinary database recognized by the board or as required by law;

(r) Share documents, materials, or other information, including confidential and privileged documents, materials, or information, received or maintained by the board with other state or federal agencies and with a national disciplinary database recognized by the board or as required by law, provided that the recipient agrees to maintain the confidentiality and privileged status of the document, material, or other information;

(s) Participate in or conduct performance audits;

(t) Through its employees and/or representatives, enter and make inspections of any workplace or practice of a social worker or marriage and family therapist who is subject to investigation by the board in order to inspect and/or copy any record pertaining to clients or the practice of social work or marriage and family therapy under this chapter and/or Sections 73-54-1 through 73-54-39; and

(u) Conduct a criminal history records check on licensees whose licensure is subject to investigation by the board and on applicants for licensure. In order to determine the applicant’s or licensee’s suitability for licensing, the applicant or licensee shall undergo a fingerprint-based criminal history records check of the Mississippi central criminal database and the Federal Bureau of Investigation criminal history database. Each applicant or licensee, as applicable, shall submit a full set of the applicant’s fingerprints in a form and manner prescribed by the board, which shall be forwarded to the Mississippi Department of Public Safety (department) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation Identification Division for this purpose. The department shall disseminate the results of the state check and the national check to the board for a suitability determination. The board shall be authorized to charge and collect from the applicant or licensee, in addition to all other applicable fees and costs, any amount as may be incurred by the board in requesting and obtaining state and national criminal history records information on the applicant or licensee.

(2) The board shall have such other powers as may be required to carry out the provisions of this chapter.

(3) The powers and duties enumerated in this section are granted for the purpose of enabling the board to safeguard the public health, safety and welfare against unqualified or incompetent practitioners of social work or marriage and family therapy, and are to be liberally construed to accomplish this objective.