37-1-101. Duties of department. In addition to the provisions of 2-15-121, the department of labor and industry shall:
     (1) establish and provide all the administrative, legal, and clerical services needed by the boards within the department, including corresponding, receiving and processing routine applications for licenses as defined by a board, issuing and renewing routine licenses as defined by a board, disciplining licensees, setting administrative fees, preparing agendas and meeting notices, conducting mailings, taking minutes of board meetings and hearings, and filing;
     (2) standardize policies and procedures and keep in Helena all official records of the boards;
     (3) make arrangements and provide facilities in Helena for all meetings, hearings, and examinations of each board or elsewhere in the state if requested by the board;
     (4) contract for or administer and grade examinations required by each board;
     (5) investigate complaints received by the department of illegal or unethical conduct of a member of the profession or occupation under the jurisdiction of a board within the department;
     (6) assess the costs of the department to the boards and programs on an equitable basis as determined by the department;
     (7) adopt rules setting administrative fees and expiration, renewal, and termination dates for licenses;
     (8) issue a notice to and pursue an action against a licensed individual, as a party, before the licensed individual's board after a finding of reasonable cause by a screening panel of the board pursuant to 37-1-307(1)(e);
     (9) provide notice to the appropriate legislative interim committee when a board cannot operate in a cost-effective manner;
     (10) monitor a board's cash balances to ensure that the balances do not exceed two times the board's annual appropriation level and adjust fees through administrative rules when necessary; and
     (11) establish policies and procedures to set fees for administrative services, as provided in 37-1-134, commensurate with the cost of the services provided. Late penalty fees may be set without being commensurate with the cost of services provided.

     History: En. 82A-1603 by Sec. 1, Ch. 272, L. 1971; R.C.M. 1947, 82A-1603; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 293, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 3, Ch. 274, L. 1981; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 390, L. 1983; amd. Sec. 1, Ch. 307, L. 1985; amd. Sec. 42, Ch. 83, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 413, L. 1989; amd. Sec. 21, Ch. 429, L. 1995; amd. Sec. 106, Ch. 483, L. 2001; amd. Sec. 6, Ch. 467, L. 2005.