Article 14. Declaratory Decision of California Government Code >> Division 3. >> Title 2. >> Part 1. >> Chapter 4.5. >> Article 14.

Subject to the limitations in this article, an agency may conduct an adjudicative proceeding under the declaratory decision procedure provided in this article.

(a) A person may apply to an agency for a declaratory decision as to the applicability to specified circumstances of a statute, regulation, or decision within the primary jurisdiction of the agency.
  (b) The agency in its discretion may issue a declaratory decision in response to the application. The agency shall not issue a declaratory decision if any of the following applies:
  (1) Issuance of the decision would be contrary to a regulation adopted under this article.
  (2) The decision would substantially prejudice the rights of a person who would be a necessary party and who does not consent in writing to the determination of the matter by a declaratory decision proceeding.
  (3) The decision involves a matter that is the subject of pending administrative or judicial proceedings.
  (c) An application for a declaratory decision is not required for exhaustion of the applicant's administrative remedies for purposes of judicial review.

Within 30 days after receipt of an application for a declaratory decision, an agency shall give notice of the application to all persons to which notice of an adjudicative proceeding is otherwise required, and may give notice to any other person.

The provisions of a formal, informal, or other applicable hearing procedure do not apply to an agency proceeding for a declaratory decision except to the extent provided in this article or to the extent the agency so provides by regulation or order.

(a) Within 60 days after receipt of an application for a declaratory decision, an agency shall do one of the following, in writing:
  (1) Issue a decision declaring the applicability of the statute, regulation, or decision in question to the specified circumstances.
  (2) Set the matter for specified proceedings.
  (3) Agree to issue a declaratory decision by a specified time.
  (4) Decline to issue a declaratory decision, stating in writing the reasons for its action. Agency action under this paragraph is not subject to judicial review.
  (b) A copy of the agency's action under subdivision (a) shall be served promptly on the applicant and any other party.
  (c) If an agency has not taken action under subdivision (a) within 60 days after receipt of an application for a declaratory decision, the agency is considered to have declined to issue a declaratory decision on the matter.

(a) A declaratory decision shall contain the names of all parties to the proceeding, the particular facts on which it is based, and the reasons for its conclusion.
  (b) A declaratory decision has the same status and binding effect as any other decision issued by the agency in an adjudicative proceeding.

(a) The Office of Administrative Hearings shall adopt and promulgate model regulations under this article that are consistent with the public interest and with the general policy of this article to facilitate and encourage agency issuance of reliable advice. The model regulations shall provide for all of the following:
  (1) A description of the classes of circumstances in which an agency will not issue a declaratory decision.
  (2) The form, contents, and filing of an application for a declaratory decision.
  (3) The procedural rights of a person in relation to an application.
  (4) The disposition of an application.
  (b) The regulations adopted by the Office of Administrative Hearings under this article apply in an adjudicative proceeding unless an agency adopts its own regulations to govern declaratory decisions of the agency.
  (c) This article does not apply in an adjudicative proceeding to the extent an agency by regulation provides inconsistent rules or provides that this article is not applicable in a proceeding of the agency.