(a) An administrative law judge employed by the office or a temporary administrative law judge may:
(1) administer an oath;
(2) take testimony;
(3) rule on a question of evidence;
(4) issue an order relating to discovery or another hearing or prehearing matter, including an order imposing a sanction;
(5) issue an order that refers a case to an alternative dispute resolution procedure, determines how the costs of the procedure will be apportioned, and appoints an impartial third party as described by Section 2009.053 to facilitate that procedure;
(6) issue a proposal for decision that includes findings of fact and conclusions of law;
(7) if expressly authorized by a state agency rule adopted under Section 2001.058(f), make the final decision in a contested case;
(8) serve as an impartial third party as described by Section 2009.053 for a dispute referred by an administrative law judge, unless one of the parties objects to the appointment; and
(9) serve as an impartial third party as described by Section 2009.053 for a dispute referred by a government agency under a contract.
(b) An administrative law judge may not serve as an impartial third party for a dispute that the administrative law judge refers to an alternative dispute resolution procedure.