Chapter 5. Special Provisions Relating To Actions Against Local Public Entities of California Government Code >> Division 3.6. >> Title 1. >> Part 4. >> Chapter 5.

As used in this chapter, "public agency" has the meaning given that term by Section 53050.

Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, service of process in an action or proceeding against a public agency may be made in the manner provided in Section 960.3 if, during the 10 days immediately following the commencement of the action or proceeding:
  (a) No statement pertaining to the public agency is on file, or is placed on file, in the Roster of Public Agencies in the office of the Secretary of State and of the county clerk of each county in which the public agency then maintains an office, as required by Section 53051; or
  (b) A statement or amended statement pertaining to the public agency is on file, or is placed on file, in the Roster of Public Agencies in the office of the Secretary of State and of the county clerk of each county in which the public agency then maintains an office, but the information contained therein is so inaccurate or incomplete that it does not substantially conform to the requirements of Section 53051; or
  (c) A statement or amended statement pertaining to the public agency is on file, or is placed on file, in the Roster of Public Agencies in the office of the Secretary of State and of the county clerk of each county in which the public agency then maintains an office, but neither the governing body nor any officer or agent of the public agency upon whom personal service of process constitutes service upon the public agency can thereafter, with due diligence, be personally served at the address or addresses set forth in the statement.

(a) If it is shown by affidavit to the satisfaction of the court or judge that the circumstances required by Section 960.2 exist, the court or judge may make an order that service of process be made upon the public agency as provided in this section.
  (b) Service of process shall be made by:
  (1) Leaving two copies of the process for each public agency defendant to be served, together with two copies of the order authorizing the service, in the hands of the Secretary of State or in his or her office at Sacramento; or
  (2) Mailing two copies of the process for each public agency defendant to be served, together with two copies of the order authorizing the service, to the office of the Secretary of State in Sacramento by certified or registered mail, addressee only, return receipt requested. Service shall be effective as of the day the return receipt is received from the office of the Secretary of State.
  (c) Service in this manner constitutes personal service upon the public agency.
  (d) A fee of fifty dollars ($50) shall be paid by the plaintiff to the Secretary of State for each public agency on which service is made in this manner.

Upon receipt of the copies of process pursuant to Section 960.3, the Secretary of State shall give notice of the service of the process to the governing body of the public agency at its principal office in this state, by forwarding to such office, by registered mail with request for return receipt, a copy of the process. If the only address disclosed by the records of the Secretary of State of the principal office of the governing body of the public agency is the county in which it is situated, then the process shall be mailed to the county seat, addressed to the public agency in care of the county clerk, or it may be mailed to any address for the public agency specified in the court order. If the process is mailed in care of the county clerk, the county clerk shall promptly send it to the public agency at its address within the county, if known to him, and if unknown shall cause the process to be posted at the courthouse of the county for 30 days. If the records of the Secretary of State disclose no address for the public agency, then the Secretary of State shall mail a copy of the process to the county clerk of either (a) the county in which the transaction or occurrence took place, or (b) the county where real property of the agency is situated, and the county clerk shall promptly send the process to the public agency at its address within the county, if known to him, or if unknown shall cause the process to be posted at the courthouse of the county for 30 days. Upon receipt of such copies of process, the Secretary of State shall immediately forward to the Attorney General a copy of all papers served upon him. The Attorney General, upon receipt of any such process, may locate the responsible officers of the public agency involved, and the governing body of such public agency may relieve the Attorney General of any further responsibility hereunder, and may designate any other attorneys to defend said action or take such other action as they may determine.

The Attorney General, until he is relieved of further responsibility in the manner provided in Section 960.4, or until the matter has been reduced to final judgment, shall have the duty to defend such public agency by taking whatever steps he considers appropriate or necessary. The Attorney General, until he is so relieved of further responsibility, shall have full authority to bind the public agency by stipulation or admission. The Attorney General may delegate his responsibility hereunder in any particular case, to any county counsel or district attorney willing to accept such delegation. When such responsibility has been delegated, the district attorney or county counsel, as the case may be, shall have the same power and authority with reference to the matter as is hereinabove provided for the Attorney General. All costs and expenses, without limitation, of the Attorney General or district attorney or county counsel, pursuant to this chapter shall be a charge against the public agency in whose behalf he appears.

Service of process in an action or proceeding against a public agency may be made in conformity with the information contained in the statement in the Roster of Public Agencies pertaining to that public agency which is on file at the time of such service. Service in this manner, if otherwise made in compliance with law, constitutes personal service upon the public agency. As used in this section, "statement in the Roster of Public Agencies" means the statement or amended statement in the Roster of Public Agencies in the office of the Secretary of State or in the office of the county clerk of any county in which such statement or amended statement is on file.