(a) The Council has the authority to:
- (1) Receive and disburse funds as prescribed in this article to be used for the purposes of this article;
- (2) Enter into contracts;
- (3) Hire and discharge employees, prescribe their duties and fix their compensation;
- (4) Accept grants, gifts and contributions for expenditure consistent with the purposes of this article;
- (5) Sue and be sued as a council without individual liability of the members for acts of the Council when the Council is acting within the scope of the powers conferred by this article;
- (6) Cooperate with other state or federal agencies and organizations engaged in work or activities consistent with the purposes of this article;
- (7) Conduct public relations and education programs for increasing beef production and improving beef marketing practices;
- (8) Conduct or contract for scientific research with any accredited college or university which will aid in implementing the purposes of this article; and,
- (9) Prepare and submit an annual report of its activities and fiscal accounting to the Commissioner no later than January 15, of each year.
- (b) The Council may propose rules for legislative approval in accordance with the provisions of article three, chapter twenty-nine-a of this code designed to implement the provisions of this article.