(a) The board has all the powers and duties set forth in this article, by rule, in article one of this chapter and elsewhere in law.

(b) The board shall:

(1) Hold meetings, conduct hearings and administer examinations;

(2) Establish requirements for licenses and permits;

(3) Establish procedures for submitting, approving and rejecting applications for licenses and permits;

(4) Determine the qualifications of any applicant for licenses and permits;

(5) Prepare, conduct, administer and grade examinations for licenses;

(6) Determine the passing grade for the examinations;

(7) Maintain records of the examinations the board or a third party administers, including the number of persons taking the examinations and the pass and fail rate;

(8) Hire, discharge, establish the job requirements and fix the compensation of the executive director;

(9) Maintain an office, and hire, discharge, establish the job requirements and fix the compensation of employees, investigators and contracted employees necessary to enforce the provisions of this article;

(10) Investigate alleged violations of the provisions of this article, legislative rules, orders and final decisions of the board;

(11) Conduct disciplinary hearings of persons regulated by the board;

(12) Determine disciplinary action and issue orders;

(13) Institute appropriate legal action for the enforcement of the provisions of this article;

(14) Maintain an accurate registry of names and addresses of all persons regulated by the board;

(15) Keep accurate and complete records of its proceedings, and certify the same as may be necessary and appropriate;

(16) Establish the continuing education requirements for licensees;

(17) Issue, renew, combine, deny, restrict, suspend, restrict, revoke or reinstate licenses and permits;

(18) Establish a fee schedule;

(19) Propose rules in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code to implement the provisions of this article; and

(20) Take all other actions necessary and proper to effectuate the purposes of this article.

(c) The board may:

(1) Contract with third parties to administer examinations required under the provisions of this article;

(2) Sue and be sued in its official name as an agency of this state; and

(3) Confer with the Attorney General or his or her assistant in connection with legal matters and questions.