Executive director's duties and powers

The executive director shall: (1) Serve as the principal official in state government responsible for the coordination of programs for the needy, poor, and disadvantaged persons, refugees, and immigrants; (2) Oversee, supervise, and direct the performance by subordinates of activities in such areas as planning, evaluation, and coordination of programs for disadvantaged persons, refugees, and immigrants and development of a statewide service delivery network; (3) Assess the policies and practices of public and private agencies impacting on the disadvantaged and conduct advocacy efforts on behalf of the disadvantaged, refugees, and immigrants; (4) Devise and recommend legislative and administrative actions for the improvement of services for the disadvantaged, refugees, and immigrants; (5) Serve as a member of advisory boards and panels of state agencies in such areas as child development programs, elder programs, social services programs, health and medical assistance programs, refugee assistance programs, and immigrant services programs; (6) Administer funds allocated for the office of community services; and apply for, receive, and disburse grants and donations from all sources for programs and services to assist the disadvantaged, refugees, and immigrants; (7) Adopt, amend, and repeal rules pursuant to chapter 91 for purposes of this chapter; (8) Retain such staff as may be necessary for the purposes of this chapter, who may be exempt from chapter 76; and (9) Contract for services as may be necessary for the purposes of this chapter.