(a)      The Commission shall:

            (1)      Cooperate with and render technical assistance to federal, State, local, and other public or private agencies, organizations, and institutions that are formulating or carrying on programs to prevent or eliminate discriminatory housing practices;

            (2)      Conduct studies concerning the nature and extent of discriminatory housing practices in representative communities, urban, suburban, and rural, throughout the State; and

            (3)      Publish and disseminate reports, recommendations, and information derived from such studies.

      (b)      To further the purposes of this subtitle, the Commission may conduct educational and conciliatory activities, including:

            (1)      Conferences to acquaint interested persons with the provisions of this subtitle and the plans for implementation of this subtitle;

            (2)      In consultation with interested persons, programs of voluntary compliance and of enforcement; and

            (3)      Consultations with interested persons and State and local officials to learn the extent, if any, to which housing discrimination exists in the State or local political subdivisions and how State or local enforcement programs may be used to combat housing discrimination in connection with, or in place of, the Commission's enforcement of this subtitle.