§ 344. Powers. Notwithstanding any other state or local law or regulation to the contrary, the special task force shall have the following powers: 1. To inspect books, records and premises of manufacturers and contractors, with respect to their respective production employees, to determine compliance with this chapter, including but not limited to, minimum wage, overtime compensation, unemployment insurance coverage, child labor and industrial homework and, if the special task force determines that a manufacturer or contractor has violated any provision of this chapter with respect to its production employees, to assess and collect, on behalf of the commissioner, an administrative penalty. If the violation is of a provision of this chapter for which the assessment and collection of an administrative penalty is not otherwise authorized, the special task force may assess and collect a penalty of up to two hundred fifty dollars for a first violation and up to five hundred dollars for each subsequent violation. No penalty shall be levied pursuant to this subdivision unless the commissioner shall provide the violator with notification of such violation and of the amount of such administrative penalty by certified mail and with an opportunity to request a hearing within fifteen days following the receipt of such notice. If a hearing is requested, the commissioner may issue a final order upon such hearing and a finding that a violation has occurred. If no hearing is requested, such notice shall become a final order upon the expiration of the fifteen-day period. Payment of such administrative penalty is due when a final order is issued or when the notice becomes a final order. Any penalty imposed pursuant to this subdivision may be recovered with costs upon an appeal to the appellate division of the supreme court pursuant to article seventy-eight of the civil practice law and rules and upon a final determination that the finding by the commissioner was in error. Any penalty paid pursuant to this subdivision shall be applied to enforcement and administrative costs of the special task force; 2. When in the course of inspections pursuant to subdivision one above:

(a) To inspect books and records of manufacturers and contractors, with respect to their respective production employees, concerning the deduction and remittance to the proper authorities of all federal, state and local payroll taxes and to refer to the appropriate authorities any instance in which there is reasonable cause to believe that the payment of federal, state and local payroll taxes is being evaded; and

(b) To inspect premises of manufacturers and contractors, with respect to their respective production employees, to determine compliance with concerning state or local building codes, state or local fire codes, laws or regulations and state or local health codes, laws or regulations and to refer to the appropriate authorities any instance in which there is reasonable cause to believe that a violation of such codes, laws or regulations exists; and to immediately evacuate and close any premises deemed by a special task force investigator trained in accordance with section three hundred forty-six of this article to recognize fire code violations, to be a serious violation of the applicable fire code; and to refer such violation immediately to the appropriate local authorities; and

(c) To take action authorized by this article necessary to implement its provisions.