(a) The department may do any of the following as may be, in the determination of the department, necessary or appropriate for purposes of this chapter:

(1) Enter into one or more agreements with the Public Utilities Commission or other state agencies to facilitate the true-up reviews required by Section 25548.4, facilitate extension of the operating period, and further the purposes of this chapter.

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(2) Engage the services of private parties to render professional and technical assistance and advice and other services in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

(3) Contract for the services of other public agencies.

(4) Engage in activities or enter into contracts or arrangements as may be necessary or desirable to carry out the department’s duties and responsibilities pursuant to this chapter.

(5) Hire personnel necessary and desirable for the timely and successful implementation and administration of the department’s duties and responsibilities pursuant to this chapter. The State Personnel Board and the Department of Human Resources shall assist the department in expediting that hiring.

(6) Disburse funds to reimburse the department for the costs incurred in the administration of this chapter, which shall equal no more than 5 percent of the amount of funds disbursed.

(b) Contracts entered into pursuant to this chapter, amendments to those contracts during their terms, or contracts for services reasonably related to those contracts, shall not be subject to competitive bidding or any other state contracting requirements, shall not require the review, consent, or approval of the Department of General Services or any other state department or agency, and are not subject to the requirements of the State Contracting Manual or the Public Contract Code.

(c) Any loan agreement entered into pursuant to this chapter is not a project for purposes of the California Environmental Quality Act (Division 13 (commencing with Section 21000)).

(d) The powers and responsibilities of the department established pursuant to this chapter are separate from, and not governed by, the provisions relating to the State Water Resources Development System.

(e) All state agencies and other state entities, and their officers and employees, shall and are hereby authorized to, at the request of the department, give the department reasonable assistance or other cooperation in carrying out the purposes of this chapter.

(f) In accordance with the purposes of the loan and this chapter, the operator shall take all steps necessary to facilitate the extension of the operating period, including submitting applications for required federal and state agency approvals, notwithstanding Public Utilities Commission Decision 18-01-022 (January 16, 2018) Decision Approving Retirement of Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant and pending further actions by the Public Utilities Commission.

(Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 239, Sec. 5. (SB 846) Effective September 2, 2022.)