(a) The department shall oversee a stakeholder process to support the development of findings and recommendations on how to best support older and aging immigrants in California, regardless of their immigration status. To help inform the stakeholder process, the department shall establish a panel. The director may, if appropriate, modify an existing panel for purposes of this article, subject to the requirements described in Section 9171.
(b) The department may contract with academic research entities to commission expert research and testimony to supplement the stakeholder process and support the development of findings and recommendations required by this article.