Cal. Public Resources Code § 33601

The conservancy may do all of the following: (a) Sue and be sued. (b) Determine the qualifications of, recommend the salary of, and appoint, an executive director who shall be exempt from civil service and serve at the pleasure of the conservancy. In addition, the conservancy may employ other staff pursuant to the State Civil Service Act and as may be authorized in the annual state Budget Act. (c) Enter into contracts pursuant to Article 4 (commencing with Section 19130) of Chapter 5 of Part 2 of Division 5 of Title 2 of the Government Code, for services requiring knowledge, experience, and ability not possessed by the conservancy’s staff. (d) Enter into other agreements with public agencies, private entities, and persons necessary for the proper discharge of the conservancy’s duties. (e) In order to further the conservancy’s purposes as set forth in Section 33501, award grants to cities, counties, resource conservation districts, or nonprofit organizations that are described in paragraph (2) of subdivision (f) of Section 33702 and that are qualified as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (26 U.S.C.A. Sec. 501(c)(3)).