1. (a) A commission may do the following:

   1. (1) Manage the commission's internal affairs.
   2. (2) Employ staff.
   3. (3) Subject to section 12 of this chapter, enter into contracts for purposes of this chapter.
   4. (4) Exercise the powers of a political subdivision specified in a cooperative agreement described in section 12 of this chapter.
   5. (5) Provide a forum for the discussion, study, and evaluation of water resource issues of common concern in the river basin.
   6. (6) Facilitate and foster cooperative planning and coordinated management of the basin's water and related land resources.
   7. (7) Develop positions on major water resource issues and serve as an advocate of the basin's interests before Congress and federal, state, and local governmental agencies.
   8. (8) Develop plans and tools to improve water quality or mitigate flooding in the basin.
   9. (9) Publicize, advertise, and distribute reports on the commission's purposes, objectives, studies, and findings.
   10. (10) When requested, make recommendations in matters related to the commission's functions and objectives to political subdivisions in the basin and to other public and private agencies.
   11. (11) When requested, act as a coordinating agency for programs and activities of other public and private agencies that are related to the commission's objectives.

   12. (12) Invite government officials of other states within the river basin to:

       1. (A) attend the commission's meetings; and
       2. (B) advise the commission upon the commission's request.
2. (b) A commission may not exercise any of the powers described in subsection (a) within a nature preserve (as defined in IC 14-31-1 ).
3. (c) This section does not exempt the commission from any other statute.

As added by P.L.123-2026, SEC.38.