The council has all of the following powers:

(a) To sue or be sued.

(b) To enter into contracts.

(c) To employ the services of public, nonprofit, and private entities.

(d) To delegate administrative functions to council staff.

(e) To employ its own legal staff or contract with other state or federal agencies for legal services, or both. The council may employ special legal counsel with the approval of the Attorney General.

(f) To receive funds, including funds from private and local governmental sources, contributions from public and private sources, as well as state and federal appropriations.

(g) To disburse funds through grants, public assistance, loans, and contracts.

(h) To request reports from state, federal, and local governmental agencies on issues related to the implementation of the Delta Plan.

(i) To adopt regulations or guidelines as needed to carry out the powers and duties identified in this division.

(j) To comment on state agency environmental impact reports for projects outside the Delta that the council determines will have a significant impact on the Delta.

(k) To hold hearings in all parts of the state necessary to carry out the powers vested in it, and for those purposes has the powers conferred upon the heads of state departments pursuant to Article 2 (commencing with Section 11180) of Chapter 2 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code. Any hearing by the council may be conducted by any member of the council, or other designee, upon authorization of the council, and he or she shall have the powers granted to the council by this section, provided that any final action of the council shall be taken by a majority of the membership of the council at a meeting duly called and held.

(Added by Stats. 2009, 7th Ex. Sess., Ch. 5, Sec. 39. (SB 1 7x) Effective February 3, 2010.)