The commission shall administer and enforce this chapter and shall have the following powers and duties under this chapter:
To adopt, modify, repeal and promulgate, after due notice and hearing, 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 or effectuating the powers and duties of the commission under this chapter, including but not limited to rules and regulations concerning the required accreditation training, the issuance and annual renewal of certificates, the assessment of annual fees and the assessment of penalties, reprimands, and the suspension and revocation of certificates, abatement emergencies and the exclusion of minor abatement and/or routine maintenance activities at commercial buildings, industrial facilities, public buildings and school buildings from any requirements of this chapter;
To issue certificates for the positions of management planner, project designer, air monitor, contractor, supervisor, inspector and worker and to renew said certificates annually;
To assess penalties, to issue reprimands and to suspend and revoke certificates;
To assess annual fees for the issuance and annual renewal of certificates;
To approve the accreditation of training courses administered to applicants for issuance and annual renewal of certificates and to develop an examination and grading system for testing applicants, to be administered by the designated university;
Administration and expenditure of funds deposited in and expended by legislative appropriation from the Asbestos Abatement Accreditation and Certification Fund;
Reciprocal arrangements for accreditation and certification of management planners, project designers, air monitors, contractors, supervisors, inspectors and workers with other states that have established accreditation and certification programs that meet or exceed the accreditation and certification requirements of this chapter;
To apply for, receive and expend any federal or state funds or contributions, gifts, devises, bequests or funds from any other source relating to this chapter;
To commission or conduct studies relating to this chapter;
To enter into, and to authorize the executive director to execute with the approval of the commission, contracts, grants and cooperative agreements with any federal or state agency or subdivision thereof, or any public or private institution located inside or outside the State of Mississippi, or any person, corporation or association in connection with carrying out the provisions of this chapter; but this authority under this chapter shall not include contracts, grants or cooperative agreements which do not develop data or information usable by the commission in connection with this chapter, or which provide goods, services or facilities to the commission or any of its bureaus, and shall exclude any monies for special interest groups for purposes of lobbying or otherwise promoting their special interests; and
To discharge such other duties, responsibilities and powers as are necessary to implement the provisions of this chapter.