Whenever an employee of any public school district, state college, or other public agency is appointed to membership on the commission, his employer shall grant him sufficient time away from his regular duties, without loss of income or other benefits to which he is entitled by reason of his employment, to attend meetings of the commission and to attend to the duties imposed upon him by reason of his membership on the commission. The employer of any such member may make available such stenographic, secretarial, and staff assistance as is reasonably necessary to enable him to execute the duties imposed upon him by reason of his membership on the commission.