Mississippi § 73-63-17 - Powers and duties of board.

§ 73-63-17. Powers and duties of board.

The board shall have the following powers and duties: To adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate, after due notice and hearing and in accordance with the Mississippi Administrative Procedures Law, and where not otherwise prohibited by federal or state law to make exceptions to and grant exemptions and variances from, and to enforce rules and regulations implementing the powers and duties of the board under this chapter, including rules governing the conduct of its business and meetings; To adopt an official seal and alter that seal at the pleasure of the board; To apply for, receive and expend any federal or state funds or contributions, gifts, devises, bequests or funds from any other source; To enter into, and to authorize the executive director to execute contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency, any public or private institution, or any other person to carry out this chapter. The board shall not provide any funds for special interest groups to lobby or otherwise promote the group’s special interests; To employ, in its discretion, an executive director and other qualified technical, professional and clerical personnel, including investigators and expert witnesses, as may be required for the operation of the board; To establish, charge, collect and revise reasonable and necessary fees to applicants and registrants to support the administration and enforcement of this chapter; To identify specialties and to establish qualifications, conduct examinations and issue certificates in those specialties to qualified applicants and to recognize and authorize the use of certain geologic designations; To prepare, administer and grade oral and written examinations authorized under this chapter; To issue, reissue, renew, suspend, revoke or deny the issuance, reissuance or renewal of certificates of registration or certificates of enrollment; To authorize the preparation and conduct of continuing education programs with voluntary participation; To establish standards of professional conduct; To investigate complaints of violations of this chapter, any rule, regulation or written order of the board, any condition of registration, or standard of professional conduct by registrants or nonregistrants, as provided in this chapter and to impose sanctions and penalties for violations, including, but not limited to, restrictions on the practice of any registrant or any other person engaged in the practice of geology; To administer oaths and affirmations, and to issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of evidence; To begin and maintain legal actions to enforce this chapter and to seek injunctions; To delegate powers, duties or responsibilities to the executive director as deemed necessary to efficiently administer this chapter; and To discharge other powers, duties and responsibilities provided under this chapter or as necessary to implement this chapter.