74-7304. Same; powers and duties. In addition to the powers and duties specified elsewhere in this act, the board shall have the following powers and duties:

(a) The duty to establish and maintain a principal office and other necessary offices within this state, to appoint employees and agents as necessary and to prescribe their duties and compensation, all within the limitations and conditions of appropriations made therefor;

(b) the duty to adopt by rule and regulation a description of the organization of the board, stating the general method and course of operation of the board;

(c) the duty to adopt rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this act, and the property crime restitution and compensation act[,]including rules for the allowance of attorney fees for representation of claimants; and to adopt rules and regulations providing for discovery proceedings, including medical examination, consistent with the provisions of this act relating thereto. Rules and regulations adopted by the board shall be statements of general applicability which implement, interpret or prescribe policy, or describe the procedure or practice requirements of the board;

(d) the duty to prescribe forms on which applications for compensation shall be made;

(e) the duty to hear and determine all matters relating to claims for compensation, and the power to reinvestigate or reopen claims without regard to statutes of limitation or periods of prescription;

(f) the power to request investigations and data from county and district attorneys and law enforcement officers to enable the board to determine whether and the extent to which a claimant qualifies for compensation. Confidentiality provided by law covering claimant's or victim's juvenile court records shall not be applicable in proceedings under this act;

(g) the duty, if it would contribute to the function of the board, to subpoena witnesses and other prospective evidence, administer oaths or affirmations, conduct hearings and receive relevant, nonprivileged evidence;

(h) the power to take notice of judicially recognizable facts and general, technical and scientific facts within their specialized knowledge;

(i) the duty to make available for public inspection all rules and regulations, written statements of policy, interpretations formulated, adopted or used by the board in discharging its functions, and decisions and opinions of the board;

(j) the duty to publicize the availability of compensation and information regarding the filing of claims therefor.

History: L. 1978, ch. 130, § 4; L. 1989, ch. 239, § 12; L. 1990, ch. 321, § 16; Jan. 1, 1991.