4. The council shall have the following powers:
a. to conduct public hearings throughout the State;
b. to establish subcommittees;
c. to perform fact finding functions and prepare reports on particular issues regarding race; color; religion; sexual orientation; ethnicity; gender; or physical, mental or cognitive disability; and
d. to call to its assistance and avail itself of the services of any official of this State and its political subdivisions and their departments, boards, bureaus, commissions and agencies as it may require and may expend any funds appropriated or otherwise made available to it.