The bureau of community action and economic opportunity is created within the department. The director shall appoint an executive director who is a member of the state classified service or the state career executive service, as established and approved by the civil service commission. Under the supervision of the department, the bureau shall serve as a statewide advocate for social and economic opportunities for low income persons and shall do all of the following:

    (a) Coordinate state activities designed to reduce poverty and implement community social and economic programs.

    (b) Cooperate with agencies of the state and federal government and other public agencies, nonprofit private agencies, and nonprofit organizations in reducing poverty and implementing community social and economic programs.

    (c) Receive and expend funds for any purpose authorized by this act.

    (d) Provide assistance to units of local government for the purpose of establishing and operating a community action agency.

    (e) Designate community action agencies pursuant to section 8.

    (f) Provide technical assistance to community action agencies to improve program planning, program development, administration, and the mobilization of public and private resources. In implementing this subdivision, the department shall contract, when warranted by geographical and other factors or when warranted to meet the requirements of section 15, with public agencies, nonprofit private agencies, or nonprofit organizations.

    (g) Enter into necessary contracts with community action agencies for the purpose of coordinating community social and economic programs and other programs and services designated by the bureau and for which funding is appropriated by the legislature.

    (h) Contract with public agencies, nonprofit private agencies, or nonprofit organizations for demonstration programs and other services necessary to implement this act.

    (i) Conduct performance assessments of the activities and programs of community action agencies.

    (j) Establish, in cooperation with community action agencies, an educational and public information program designed to increase public awareness regarding the nature and extent of poverty in this state and regarding existing community social and economic programs.

    (k) Evaluate state statutes and programs relevant to the reduction of poverty and recommend appropriate changes to the governor and the legislature.

    (l) Submit reports to the governor, the legislature, the state congressional delegation, and other appropriate federal officials regarding the needs, problems, opportunities, and contributions of low income persons; the effectiveness of existing state or federal policies and programs; and recommended actions to improve economic and social opportunities for low income persons.

    (m) Administer the weatherization assistance program created pursuant to 10 C.F.R. part 440. The bureau shall administer the weatherization assistance program in a manner that provides that public agencies, nonprofit private agencies, and nonprofit organizations are eligible and shall have the opportunity for funding for each portion of a program that a community action agency may undertake.

    (n) Serve as an advocate within the executive branch to remove administrative barriers to self-sufficiency services and to seek additional resources for antipoverty strategies.