The department, or a representative authorized by the department to do so, may call, conduct or attend conferences or hearings, official or unofficial, within or without this state, or otherwise participate in such conferences or hearings, with interested persons, agencies or officers, of this or any other state, or with the Congress of the United States, congressional committees, or officials of the federal government, concerning water projects, plans, or problems. However, where the appropriations committees of the Congress are hearing requests for appropriations for flood control projects being planned or constructed in California under the jurisdiction of the United States Army Corps of Engineers, or reclamation projects being planned or constructed in California by the Bureau of Reclamation, United States Department of the Interior, the California Water Commission shall present its views. Prior to making such presentation, the commission shall consult with interested local, state, and federal agencies, and may on request report to the committees the views of any county, city, state agency, or public district regarding such appropriations. The commission may, on request, represent any local agencies before such committees. Nothing in this section or in Section 12604.3 shall be deemed or construed to modify, limit, or take away from any of the powers and duties vested in the department, or any other state agency, pursuant to this article.

(Amended by Stats. 1968, Ch. 1041.)