A. The Oklahoma Abstractors Board is hereby charged with the duty of administering the Oklahoma Abstractors Act. The Board shall be the sole governmental entity, state, county or municipal, authorized to regulate and issue certificates of authority, permits, and abstract licenses in this state. For the purposes of exercising the powers and performing the duties imposed by the Oklahoma Abstractors Act, the Board shall be subject to the provisions of the Administrative Procedures Act.

B. The Board may designate and employ hearing examiners who shall have the authority to conduct hearings subject to the provisions of applicable rules, regulations, and orders of the Board. No person shall serve as a hearing examiner in any proceeding in which any party to the proceeding is or has been a client of the hearing examiner or any partnership, firm, corporation, or other entity with which the hearing examiner is or has been associated. In any hearing the burden of proof shall be upon the moving party.