In carrying out this article and awarding grants, the department shall convene and consult with an advisory committee comprised of technically qualified representatives of local water agencies, project participants, environmental interests, agricultural laborer interests, and interests representing farmers who use groundwater. The advisory committee shall be geographically balanced to reflect the communities that use water in the Central Valley. If a member of the advisory committee, or a member of

his or her immediate family, is employed by a grant applicant or the employer of a grant applicant, the committee members shall make that disclosure to the other members of the committee and shall not participate in the review of the grant application of that applicant.