The board may do any of the following:

(a) Contract.

(b) Accept funds or gifts of value from the United States or any person to aid in carrying out the purposes of this part.

(c) Conduct or contract for programs, either independently or in cooperation with any individual, public or private organization, or federal, state, or local governmental agency.

(d) Establish and maintain a bank checking account or a savings and loan association account, approved by the Director of Finance in accordance with Sections 16506 and 16605 of the Government Code, for depositing funds received by the California Exposition and State Fair. Notwithstanding Section 13340 of the Government Code, all funds maintained in an account authorized by this subdivision are continuously appropriated to the board, without regard to fiscal year, to carry out this part.

(e) Establish a program for paying vendors who contract with the California Exposition and State Fair.

(f) Make or adopt all necessary orders, rules, or regulations for governing the activities of the California Exposition and State Fair. Notwithstanding Section 14, any orders, rules, or regulations adopted by the board are exempt from Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. For informational purposes only, however, any order, rule, or regulation adopted by the board may be transmitted to the Office of Administrative Law for filing with the Secretary of State pursuant to Section 11343 of the Government Code.

(g) Delegate to the officers and employees of the California Exposition and State Fair the authority to appoint civil service personnel according to state civil service procedures. The board may also delegate to officers and employees of the California Exposition and State Fair the independent authority to appoint marshals and police as authorized by subdivision (j).

(h) Operate a payroll system for paying employees, and a system for accounting for vacation and sick leave credits of employees.

(i) Delegate to the officers and employees of the California Exposition and State Fair the exercise of powers vested in the board as the board may deem desirable for the orderly management and operation of the California Exposition and State Fair.

(j) Appoint all necessary marshals and police to keep order and preserve peace at the California Exposition and State Fair premises on a year-round basis who shall have the powers of peace officers specified in Section 830.2 of the Penal Code. A peace officer of the Department of the California Highway Patrol may be employed as a peace officer while off duty from his or her regular employment, subject to those conditions as may be set forth by the Commissioner of the Department of the California Highway Patrol. At least 75 percent of the persons appointed pursuant to this subdivision shall possess the basic certificate issued by the Commission on Peace Officers Standards and Training. The remaining 25 percent may be appointed if the person has completed a Peace Officer Standards and Training-certified academy, or possesses a Level One Reserve Certificate (as defined in Section 832.6 of the Penal Code). Of this 25 percent, any portion may be comprised of probation officers certified under Section 832. Nothing in this subdivision shall be construed to give probation officers appointed pursuant to this subdivision peace officer powers pursuant to Section 830.2 of the Penal Code.

(k) With the approval of the Department of General Services, purchase, acquire, or hold real or personal property, and beautify or improve that property. Any acquisition of land or other real property is subject to the approval of the Department of General Services, and in the case of the purchase of real property, is subject to the Property Acquisition Law (Part 11 (commencing with Section 15850) of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(l) With the approval of the Department of General Services, make permanent improvements upon publicly owned real property adjacent to, or near the vicinity of, the real property of the California Exposition and State Fair when the improvements materially benefit the property of the California Exposition and State Fair.

(m) Lease, with the approval of the Department of General Services, any of its property for any purpose for any period of time.

(n) Use or manage any of its property, with the approval of the Department of General Services, jointly or in connection with any lessee or sublessee, for any purpose approved by the board.

(o) With the approval of the Department of General Services, pledge any and all revenues, moneys, accounts, accounts receivable, contract rights, and other rights to payment of whatever kind, pursuant to such terms and conditions as are approved by the board. Any issuance of bonds, contracts entered into, debts incurred, settlements, judgments, or liens under this section or pursuant to Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 6500) of Division 7 of Title 1 of the Government Code, shall not directly, indirectly, or contingently obligate the state or any political subdivision thereof to levy or to pledge any form of taxation therefor or to make any appropriation for their payment. Any such bond shall contain on the face thereof a statement to the following effect: “Neither the full faith and credit nor the taxing power of the State of California is pledged to the payment of the principal of, or interest on this bond.”

(Amended by Stats. 2006, Ch. 825, Sec. 3. Effective September 30, 2006.)