(a) Under the direction of the Secretary of the Resources Agency, the executive officer of the State Coastal Conservancy shall act as secretary to the council, administer its affairs, and provide the staff services that the council needs to carry out this division, including, but not limited to, both of the following:
(1) Administering grants and expenditures authorized by the council from the fund or other sources, including, but not limited to, block grants from other state boards, commissions, or departments.
(2) Arranging meetings, agendas, and other administrative functions in support of the council.
(b) The Legislature may make appropriations to be used for the purposes of this division directly to the State Coastal Conservancy, for expenditures authorized by the council. If an expenditure has been approved by the council for the purposes of this division, approval of the State Coastal Conservancy is not required, except in the case of block grants provided by the council to be administered by the State Coastal Conservancy.