Article 4. Governing Procedure of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4.5. >> Article 4.

(a) The governing procedure by which an agency conducts an adjudicative proceeding is determined by the statutes and regulations applicable to that proceeding. If no other governing procedure is provided by statute or regulation, an agency may conduct an adjudicative proceeding under the administrative adjudication provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.
  (b) This chapter supplements the governing procedure by which an agency conducts an adjudicative proceeding.

A state statute or a federal statute or regulation applicable to a particular agency or decision prevails over a conflicting or inconsistent provision of this chapter.

(a) To the extent necessary to avoid a loss or delay of funds or services from the federal government that would otherwise be available to the state, the Governor may do any of the following by executive order:
  (1) Suspend, in whole or in part, any administrative adjudication provision of the Administrative Procedure Act.
  (2) Adopt a rule of procedure that will avoid the loss or delay.
  (b) The Governor shall rescind an executive order issued under this section as soon as it is no longer necessary to prevent the loss or delay of funds or services from the federal government.
  (c) If an administrative adjudication provision is suspended or rule of procedure is adopted pursuant to this section, the Governor shall promptly report the suspension or adoption to the Legislature. The report shall include recommendations concerning any legislation that may be necessary to conform the provision to federal law.

Except to the extent prohibited by another statute or regulation, a person may waive a right conferred on the person by the administrative adjudication provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act.

(a) An agency may provide any appropriate procedure for a decision for which an adjudicative proceeding is not required.
  (b) An adjudicative proceeding is not required for informal factfinding or an informal investigatory hearing, or a decision to initiate or not to initiate an investigation, prosecution, or other proceeding before the agency, another agency, or a court, whether in response to an application for an agency decision or otherwise.

(a) An agency may formulate and issue a decision by settlement, pursuant to an agreement of the parties, without conducting an adjudicative proceeding. Subject to subdivision (c), the settlement may be on any terms the parties determine are appropriate. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no evidence of an offer of compromise or settlement made in settlement negotiations is admissible in an adjudicative proceeding or civil action, whether as affirmative evidence, by way of impeachment, or for any other purpose, and no evidence of conduct or statements made in settlement negotiations is admissible to prove liability for any loss or damage except to the extent provided in Section 1152 of the Evidence Code. Nothing in this subdivision makes inadmissible any public document created by a public agency.
  (b) A settlement may be made before or after issuance of an agency pleading, except that in an adjudicative proceeding to determine whether an occupational license should be revoked, suspended, limited, or conditioned, a settlement may not be made before issuance of the agency pleading. A settlement may be made before, during, or after the hearing.
  (c) A settlement is subject to any necessary agency approval. An agency head may delegate the power to approve a settlement. The terms of a settlement may not be contrary to statute or regulation, except that the settlement may include sanctions the agency would otherwise lack power to impose.