The department of commerce is designated the state agency to cooperate and negotiate with port districts, port authorities, other governments, governmental units and agencies thereof in matters concerning the planning, acquisition, development, operation, maintenance and administration of port and commercial harbor facilities in this state.

     Any port district created in accordance with the laws of this state, after receiving the approval of a majority of the members of the board of supervisors of the county in which the port district is situated, may request matching grants from the state to assist the port district in the planning, acquisition, development or expansion of port facilities, including lands, buildings, warehouses and similar facilities, acquired or to be acquired by the port district. The requests shall be filed with the department of commerce and the department shall include in its annual budget request, a listing of the funds requested by the various port districts and the recommendations of the department with respect thereto. Funds appropriated by the legislature to the various port districts shall be disbursed through the department which shall enter into appropriate agreements with the port districts prescribing the terms and conditions of the grants in accordance with the applicable laws of this state. The department shall on or before September 1 of each year submit a written report to the governor and the legislature.

     The department may cooperate and enter into agreements with the United States and any agency or department thereof in the conduct of studies, research programs and related investigations designed to make available to port districts of this state, information to assist in stimulating, increasing or developing traffic within the port districts; but in no case shall the department obligate the state without legislative approval. To the greatest extent possible, any such studies shall be conducted in conjunction with port districts of this state.

     The department shall conduct investigations of transportation rates and shall represent the state and the various port districts before any agency of this state, the United States, or any agency or department thereof, on all matters relative to the establishment, continuance, modification or discontinuance of transportation rates insofar as the rates affect port districts or shipping operations on the navigable waters of this state.

     The department shall include in its annual budget request such funds as shall be necessary to permit the conduct of the programs and activities authorized by the provisions of this act, including administrative costs thereof.

     In construing this act, port districts coterminous with a city or township shall follow the same procedure as is prescribed for counties, substituting the local governing body and officers where applicable for the board of supervisors and county officials. Whenever in this act any power is granted to a port district, it shall be exercised by the port commission unless otherwise provided herein. Whenever in this act any power is granted to a port commission it shall be deemed to be granted to the port district but to be exercised by such port commission.