Give moderator certain admin functions?
 

Is it possible to give a moderator access to change a members user group without giving them full access to the admin control panel?

Not by default, or some massive modifications.

Possibly joinable usergroups with a group leader, but this does not let a moderator add them to the group

wouldnt it be in the scripts themselves? Something that checks the user groups before giving access? I mean I could link them directly to the page to change the user group if they had access but I dont want to give them direct access.

I'd go make them an admin with vastly reduced powers, but that wouldn't be a perfect solution.