(a) (1) The council shall administer all contracts, grants, easements, and agreements made or entered into by the California Bay-Delta Authority under Division 26.4 (commencing with Section 79400), as that division read on December 31, 2009.

(2) The exercise of the authority described in paragraph (1) is not subject to review or approval by the Department of General Services.

(3) A contract, lease, license, or any other agreement to which the California Bay-Delta Authority is a party is not void or voidable as a result of the implementation of this subdivision, but shall continue in full force and effect until the end of its term.

(b) The council shall be the successor to and shall assume from the California Bay-Delta Authority all of the administrative rights, abilities, obligations, and duties of that authority.

(c) The council shall have possession and control of all records, papers, equipment, supplies, contracts, leases, agreements, and other property, real or personal, connected with the administration of Division 26.4 (commencing with Section 79400), as that division read on December 31, 2009, or held for the benefit or use of the California Bay-Delta Authority.

(d) The council shall assume from the California Bay-Delta Authority all responsibility to manage, in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 85280) of Part 3, the science program element that was required to be undertaken by Division 26.4 (commencing with Section 79400), as that division read on December 31, 2009.

(e) Consistent with the responsibilities and duties assumed by the council pursuant to this section, all staff, resources, and funding within the Natural Resources Agency and the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection for the support of the CALFED Bay-Delta Program are hereby transferred to, and may be expended for the purposes of, the council. The executive officer of the council shall confer with the Director of Fish and Game, the director of the department, and the executive director of the board regarding possible reallocation of the staff and resources. The status, position, and rights of any officer or employee shall not be affected by this transfer and all officers and employees shall be retained pursuant to the State Civil Service Act (Part 2 (commencing with Section 18500) of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code).

(Amended by Stats. 2011, Ch. 296, Sec. 316. (AB 1023) Effective January 1, 2012.)