The secretary shall administer and enforce this chapter, and may exercise any or all of the administrative powers that are conferred by Sections 11180 to 11191, inclusive, of the Government Code upon a head of a department. In order to effectuate the declared purposes of this chapter, the secretary may contract to carry out the declared intent and purposes of this chapter.

The secretary shall, from records of the department or any other reliable source, maintain a list of producers and handlers.

The secretary may purchase general liability insurance for the council in an amount the secretary determines as necessary. The cost of the insurance shall be paid by the council. The insurance policy shall name the secretary, in the secretary’s official capacity, and the council as insured parties for claims made against the council in its advisory capacity to the secretary or against the secretary regarding the activities of the council. The secretary, after consultation with the Attorney General, may refer claims to the insurance carrier for appropriate action. In the alternative, the secretary may require that claims be handled in the manner otherwise specified in this chapter.