Immediately upon the effective date of this article, the commission shall commence such educational and conciliatory activities as in its judgment will further the purposes of this article. It may call conferences of persons in the housing industry and other interested parties to acquaint them with the provisions of this article and its suggested means of implementing it, and may endeavor with their advice to work out programs of voluntary compliance and of enforcement. It may pay per diem, travel and transportation expenses for persons attending such conferences as permitted by law. It may consult with local officials and other interested parties to learn the extent, if any, to which housing discrimination exists in their locality, and whether and how local enforcement programs might be utilized to combat such discrimination in connection with the commission's enforcement of this article. The commission shall issue reports on such conferences and consultations as it deems appropriate.