Chapter 6. Claims Procedures Established By Public Entities of California Government Code >> Division 3.6. >> Title 1. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 6.

(a) Claims against a local public entity for money or damages which are excepted by Section 905 from Chapter 1 (commencing with Section 900) and Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 910) of this part, and which are not governed by any other statutes or regulations expressly relating thereto, shall be governed by the procedure prescribed in any charter, ordinance or regulation adopted by the local public entity.
  (b) The procedure so prescribed may include a requirement that a claim be presented and acted upon as a prerequisite to suit thereon. If such requirement is included, any action brought against the public entity on the claim shall be subject to the provisions of Section 945.6 and Section 946.
  (c) The procedure so prescribed may not require a shorter time for presentation of any claim than the time provided in Section 911.2.
  (d) The procedure so prescribed may not provide a longer time for the board to take action upon any claim than the time provided in Section 912.4.
  (e) When a claim required by the procedure to be presented within a period of less than one year after the accrual of the cause of action is not presented within the required time, an application may be made to the public entity for leave to present such claim. Subdivision (b) of Section 911.4, Sections 911.6 to 912. 2, inclusive, and Sections 946.4 and 946.6 are applicable to all such claims, and the time specified in the charter, ordinance or regulation shall be deemed the "time specified in Section 911.2" within the meaning of Sections 911.6 and 946.6.

A charter provision, or a local public entity by ordinance or resolution, may establish a claims board or commission of not less than three members to perform such functions of the governing body of the public entity under this part as are prescribed by the local public entity. A charter provision, ordinance or resolution may provide that, upon the written order of the claims board or commission, the auditor or other fiscal officer of the local public entity shall cause a warrant to be drawn upon the treasury of the local public entity in the amount for which a claim has been allowed or compromised or settled.

A charter provision, or a local public entity by ordinance or resolution, may authorize an employee of the local public entity to perform those functions of the governing body of the public entity under this part that are prescribed by the local public entity, but only a charter provision may authorize that employee to allow, compromise, or settle a claim against the local public entity if the amount to be paid pursuant to the allowance, compromise or settlement exceeds fifty thousand dollars ($50,000). A charter provision, ordinance, or resolution may provide that, upon the written order of that employee, the auditor or other fiscal officer of the local public entity shall cause a warrant to be issued upon the treasury of the local public entity in the amount for which a claim has been allowed, compromised, or settled.

(a) The Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board may authorize any state agency to settle and pay claims filed pursuant to Section 905.2 if the settlement does not exceed one thousand dollars ($1,000) or a lesser amount as the board may determine, or to reject the claim and provide the notice required by Section 913. The board may require state agencies that it so authorizes to report annually to the board concerning the claims resolved pursuant to this section.
  (b) As used in this section, "state agency" means any office, officer, department, division, bureau, board, commission, or agency of the state, claims against which are paid by warrants drawn by the Controller, but does not mean any judicial branch entity, as defined in Section 900.3, or any judge thereof.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 935.6, the Department of Transportation may deny or adjust and pay any claim arising out of the activities of the department without the prior approval of the California Victim Compensation and Government Claims Board if both of the following conditions exist:
  (1) The amount claimed is equal to or less than the amount specified as the small claims court jurisdictional amount in Section 116.221 of the Code of Civil Procedure.
  (2) The Director of Finance or the Director of Transportation certifies that a sufficient appropriation for the payment of the claim exists.
  (b) If the department elects not to pay any claim, the department shall provide the notice required by Section 913.
  (c) Any person who submits any claim arising out of any activity of the Department of Transportation shall comply with every other applicable provision of this part relating to claims against state agencies.

The Judicial Council may adjust and pay any claim arising out of the activities of a judicial branch entity or judge thereof. The Judicial Council may adopt rules of court authorizing any committee of the Judicial Council or employee of the Administrative Office of the Courts to perform the functions of the Judicial Council under this section.

The Trustees of the California State University may adjust and pay any claim arising out of the activities of the California State University. The Trustees of the California State University may, by rule, authorize the Office of Risk Management at the Office of the Chancellor of the California State University to perform the functions of the Trustees of the California State University under this section.