(a) The director shall perform or delegate all of the following duties:

(1) Operate the domestic violence program and, in collaboration with ACADV or other qualified entity, coordinate and administer statewide activities related to the prevention of domestic violence.

(2) Have the right to enter and inspect the premises of domestic violence centers that are applying for an initial certification or facing potential suspension or revocation of certification to effectively evaluate the state of compliance with minimum standards.

(3) Promote the involvement of domestic violence centers in the coordination, development, and planning of domestic violence programming.

(4) Coordinate with state agencies that have health, education, or criminal justice responsibilities to raise awareness of domestic violence and promote consistent policy implementation, including law enforcement training.

(5) Cooperate with, assist in, and participate in programs of other properly qualified state or federal agencies, schools of medicine, hospitals, and health clinics in planning and conducting research on the prevention of domestic violence and the provision of services to clients.

(6) Contract with ACADV or other qualified entity for the creation of minimum standards of service provision, training, and technical assistance to certified domestic violence centers, and for the evaluation of services provided by domestic violence centers.

(7) Consider applications from certified domestic violence centers for capital improvement grants and award those grants pursuant to Article 9, Chapter 23, Title 41.

(8) Adopt, by rule, procedures to administer this chapter, including developing criteria for the approval, suspension, or rejection of certification of domestic violence centers.

(9) Receive and approve or reject applications for funding of certified domestic violence centers. When approving funding for a newly certified domestic violence center, the director shall make every effort to minimize any adverse economic impact on existing certified domestic violence centers or services provided within the same service area. In order to minimize duplication of services, the director shall make every effort to encourage subcontracting relationships from existing certified domestic violence centers within the same service area. The director shall equitably distribute funds from the Domestic Violence Trust Fund and state funds to the certified domestic violence centers.

(10) Manage the Domestic Violence Trust Fund for the purposes of collecting and distributing funds pursuant to this chapter.

(b) Any facility which shelters children, pursuant to this chapter, shall be exempt from the provisions of Title 38, Chapter 7.