Section 71-0503. Investigation by department

1.  Any  investigation,  inquiry  or  hearing which the department has
  power to undertake or to hold may be undertaken or held by or before the
  commissioner, the deputy commissioner or the  head  of  a  division,  or
  before  any  other  officer or employee of the department designated for
  such purpose by written order of the commissioner, filed in  the  office
  of the department. All investigations, inquiries, hearings and decisions
  of  the commissioner, the deputy commissioner or the head of a division,
  shall be and be deemed to be the investigations, inquiries, hearings and
  decisions of the department, and every order or  decision  made  by  the
  commissioner,   and   every   order  or  decision  made  by  the  deputy
  commissioner or a head of division and approved  and  confirmed  by  the
  commissioner and ordered filed in the office of the department, shall be
  and be deemed to be the order or decision of the department.
    2.  The commissioner, deputy commissioner, a head of a division, or an
  officer  or  employee  of  the  department  duly   designated   by   the
  commissioner,   shall   have  the  power  to  administer  oaths  in  any
  proceedings which the department is required or  authorized  by  law  to
  conduct.
    3.  The  department  shall  have  power  to  subpoena  and require the
  attendance in this state of witnesses and  the  production  by  them  of
  books  and papers pertinent to the investigations and inquiries which it
  is authorized to make under any provision  of  this  chapter  listed  in
  section  71-0501  or under titles 5 through 15 inclusive and title 33 of
  this article and to examine them and such public  records  as  it  shall
  require  in  relation  thereto, and for the purpose of such examinations
  the department shall possess all the powers conferred by the Legislative
  Law upon a commitee of the Legislature or by the Civil Practice Law  and