(a)
The State of California is hereby authorized to participate with the States of Alaska, Hawaii, Oregon, and Washington in a joint liaison program with the Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, with the objective of assisting the states in taking maximum advantage of the oceanographic data, products, and services available from the federal government through the Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction.
(b)
The liaison program shall include all of the following:
(1)
Assist state and local governments to become fully aware of oceanographic data and products available from the federal government and especially from the Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction.
(2)
Assist the Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to become more fully aware of state and local problems and the requirements of state and local governments.
(3)
Assist in setting up lines of communications to move oceanographic data and products from the Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction to the people in the states who need those data and products.
(c)
The liaison program shall include workshops for small groups of technical experts from state and local governments, academic institutions, and the private sector. The workshops shall be held at the Center for Ocean Analysis and Prediction in Monterey and at other facilities in the western states as appropriate.
(d)
This section shall not become operative until at least one other state participates in the joint liaison program.