(1) The director of the center, subject to the approval of the Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning, shall fix the salaries and wages of employees of the center, shall reimburse employees for actual expenses incurred in the performance of their duties, and may approve receipt by employees of additional income payments from grants, fellowships and other sources.

(2) The director of the center, upon approval of the board of trustees, may contract with universities and colleges, with individuals and with public or private research organizations for their services and, under the same approval, may contract for performance by the center of services to governmental subdivisions of the state, to United States government departments and agencies, to area development organizations, to trade associations and other similar groups of public or private nature, and to private business enterprises, and may set fees for such services. Upon approval of the board of trustees, the center may establish intern programs to provide experience that supplements the education of students enrolled in state institutions of higher learning.

(3) Expenditures by and for the center and its branches shall be paid by the State Treasurer out of the funds appropriated to carry out the provisions of this chapter, upon warrant issued by the State Fiscal Management Board; and such board shall issue its warrant upon requisition signed by the director of the center, in the manner provided by law. Full and complete accounting shall be kept and made by the center for all funds received and expended by it. Representatives of the office of the State Auditor annually shall audit the expenditures of funds received by the center from all sources, and the auditor shall make a complete and detailed report of such audit to the Legislature.