Services of all engineers, experts, accountants, and other technical assistants employed by the commission shall be available to the director in the performance of his or her duties; and such engineers, experts, accountants, and technical assistants shall make such appraisals and audits as the director, with the approval of the commission, may request. The director and his or her staff shall have access to all records, files, reports, documents, and other information in the possession or custody of the commission to the same extent as the members of the commission and its staff have access thereto and subject to the same limitations imposed on the use thereof by the members of the commission and its staff.