Duties; powers.

A. The council shall: (1) conduct marketing programs, including promotion, education and research programs relating to cattle and beef products; (2) submit to the director a detailed annual budget for the council on a fiscal year basis; (3) bond officers and employees of the council who receive and disburse council funds; (4) keep detailed and accurate records of all receipts and disbursements, have those records audited annually and keep the audit available for inspection in the council office; (5) establish procedures for the adoption of regulations that will provide for input from producers; (6) determine and publish each year the assessment rates to be collected by the board; and (7) employ staff not to exceed four persons. B. The council may: (1) contract for scientific research to discover and improve the commercial value of beef and products thereof; (2) disseminate reliable information showing the value of beef and its products for any purpose for which they may be found useful and profitable; (3) make grants to research agencies for financing studies or for the purchase or acquisition of facilities necessary to carry out the purposes of the council as authorized by the New Mexico Beef Council Act; (4) cooperate with any local, state or national organizations or agencies, whether created by law or voluntary, engaged in work or activities similar to that of the council and enter into contracts with those organizations or agencies and expend funds in connection therewith for carrying on joint programs; (5) study legislation, state and federal, with respect to tariffs, duties, reciprocal trade agreements, import quotas and other matters concerning the effect on the beef industry and represent and protect the interests of the beef industry with respect to any legislation or proposed legislation or executive action that may affect that industry; (6) enter into contracts that it deems appropriate to the carrying out of the purposes of the council as authorized by that act; (7) sue and be sued as a council without individual liability for acts of the council within the scope of the powers conferred upon it by that act; (8) appoint subordinate officers and employees of the council, prescribe their duties and fix their compensation; (9) adopt regulations for the exercise of its powers and duties. A copy of all council regulations shall be filed with the department; and (10) cooperate with other state beef councils or agencies in the collection of assessments.