Article 4. Hearings On Franchise Modification, Replacement, Termination, Refusal To Continue, Delivery And Preparation Obligations, And Warranty Reimbursement of California Vehicle Code >> Division 2. >> Chapter 6. >> Article 4.

(a) Notwithstanding Section 20999.1 of the Business and Professions Code or the terms of any franchise, no franchisor shall terminate or refuse to continue any existing franchise unless all of the following conditions are met:
  (1) The franchisee and the board have received written notice from the franchisor as follows:
  (A) Sixty days before the effective date thereof setting forth the specific grounds for termination or refusal to continue.
  (B) Fifteen days before the effective date thereof setting forth the specific grounds with respect to any of the following:
  (i) Transfer of any ownership or interest in the franchise without the consent of the franchisor, which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
  (ii) Misrepresentation by the franchisee in applying for the franchise.
  (iii) Insolvency of the franchisee, or filing of any petition by or against the franchisee under any bankruptcy or receivership law.
  (iv) Any unfair business practice after written warning thereof.
  (v) Failure of the motor vehicle dealer to conduct its customary sales and service operations during its customary hours of business for seven consecutive business days, giving rise to a good faith belief on the part of the franchisor that the motor vehicle dealer is in fact going out of business, except for circumstances beyond the direct control of the motor vehicle dealer or by order of the department.
  (C) The written notice shall contain, on the first page thereof in at least 12-point bold type and circumscribed by a line to segregate it from the rest of the text, one of the following statements, whichever is applicable: [To be inserted when a 60-day notice of termination is given.] "NOTICE TO DEALER: You have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing in which you may protest the termination of your franchise under provisions of the California Vehicle Code. You must file your protest with the board within 30 calendar days after receiving this notice or within 30 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the franchisor or your protest right will be waived." [To be inserted when a 15-day notice of termination is given.] "NOTICE TO DEALER: You have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing in which you may protest the termination of your franchise under provisions of the California Vehicle Code. You must file your protest with the board within 10 calendar days after receiving this notice or within 10 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the franchisor or your protest right will be waived."
  (2) Except as provided in Section 3050.7, the board finds that there is good cause for termination or refusal to continue, following a hearing called pursuant to Section 3066. The franchisee may file a protest with the board within 30 days after receiving a 60-day notice, satisfying the requirements of this section, or within 30 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the franchisor, or within 10 days after receiving a 15-day notice, satisfying the requirements of this section, or within 10 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the franchisor. When a protest is filed, the board shall advise the franchisor that a timely protest has been filed, that a hearing is required pursuant to Section 3066, and that the franchisor may not terminate or refuse to continue until the board makes its findings.
  (3) The franchisor has received the written consent of the franchisee, or the appropriate period for filing a protest has elapsed.
  (b) (1) Notwithstanding Section 20999.1 of the Business and Professions Code or the terms of any franchise, no franchisor shall modify or replace a franchise with a succeeding franchise if the modification or replacement would substantially affect the franchisee' s sales or service obligations or investment, unless the franchisor has first given the board and each affected franchisee written notice thereof at least 60 days in advance of the modification or replacement. Within 30 days of receipt of the notice, satisfying the requirement of this section, or within 30 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the franchisor, a franchisee may file a protest with the board and the modification or replacement does not become effective until there is a finding by the board that there is good cause for the modification or replacement. If, however, a replacement franchise is the successor franchise to an expiring or expired term franchise, the prior franchise shall continue in effect until resolution of the protest by the board. In the event of multiple protests, hearings shall be consolidated to expedite the disposition of the issue.
  (2) The written notice shall contain, on the first page thereof in at least 12-point bold type and circumscribed by a line to segregate it from the rest of the text, the following statement: "NOTICE TO DEALER: Your franchise agreement is being modified or replaced. If the modification or replacement will substantially affect your sales or service obligations or investment, you have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing in which you may protest the proposed modification or replacement of your franchise under provisions of the California Vehicle Code. You must file your protest with the board within 30 calendar days of your receipt of this notice or within 30 days after the end of any appeal procedure provided by the franchisor or your protest rights will be waived."

In determining whether good cause has been established for modifying, replacing, terminating, or refusing to continue a franchise, the board shall take into consideration the existing circumstances, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
  (a) Amount of business transacted by the franchisee, as compared to the business available to the franchisee.
  (b) Investment necessarily made and obligations incurred by the franchisee to perform its part of the franchise.
  (c) Permanency of the investment.
  (d) Whether it is injurious or beneficial to the public welfare for the franchise to be modified or replaced or the business of the franchisee disrupted.
  (e) Whether the franchisee has adequate motor vehicle sales and service facilities, equipment, vehicle parts, and qualified service personnel to reasonably provide for the needs of the consumers for the motor vehicles handled by the franchisee and has been and is rendering adequate services to the public.
  (f) Whether the franchisee fails to fulfill the warranty obligations of the franchisor to be performed by the franchisee.
  (g) Extent of franchisee's failure to comply with the terms of the franchise.

(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in subdivision (b), if a franchisor seeks to enter into a franchise establishing an additional motor vehicle dealership, or seeks to relocate an existing motor vehicle dealership, that has a relevant market area within which the same line-make is represented, the franchisor shall, in writing, first notify the board and each franchisee in that line-make in the relevant market area of the franchisor's intention to establish an additional dealership or to relocate an existing dealership. Within 20 days of receiving the notice, satisfying the requirements of this section, or within 20 days after the end of an appeal procedure provided by the franchisor, a franchisee required to be given the notice may file with the board a protest to the proposed dealership establishment or relocation described in the franchisor's notice. If, within this time, a franchisee files with the board a request for additional time to file a protest, the board or its executive director, upon a showing of good cause, may grant an additional 10 days to file the protest. When a protest is filed, the board shall inform the franchisor that a timely protest has been filed, that a hearing is required pursuant to Section 3066, and that the franchisor may not establish the proposed dealership or relocate the existing dealership until the board has held a hearing as provided in Section 3066, nor thereafter, if the board has determined that there is good cause for not permitting the establishment of the proposed dealership or relocation of the existing dealership. In the event of multiple protests, hearings may be consolidated to expedite the disposition of the issue.
  (2) If a franchisor seeks to enter into a franchise that authorizes a satellite warranty facility to be established at, or relocated to, a proposed location that is within two miles of a dealership of the same line-make, the franchisor shall first give notice in writing of the franchisor's intention to establish or relocate a satellite warranty facility at the proposed location to the board and each franchisee operating a dealership of the same line-make within two miles of the proposed location. Within 20 days of receiving the notice satisfying the requirements of this section, or within 20 days after the end of an appeal procedure provided by the franchisor, a franchisee required to be given the notice may file with the board a protest to the establishing or relocating of the satellite warranty facility. If, within this time, a franchisee files with the board a request for additional time to file a protest, the board or its executive director, upon a showing of good cause, may grant an additional 10 days to file the protest. When a protest is filed, the board shall inform the franchisor that a timely protest has been filed, that a hearing is required pursuant to Section 3066, and that the franchisor may not establish or relocate the proposed satellite warranty facility until the board has held a hearing as provided in Section 3066, nor thereafter, if the board has determined that there is good cause for not permitting the satellite warranty facility. In the event of multiple protests, hearings may be consolidated to expedite the disposition of the issue.
  (3) The written notice shall contain, on the first page thereof in at least 12-point bold type and circumscribed by a line to segregate it from the rest of the text, the following statement:

"NOTICE TO DEALER: You have the right to file a protest with the NEW MOTOR VEHICLE BOARD in Sacramento and have a hearing on your protest under the terms of the California Vehicle Code if you oppose this action. You must file your protest with the board within 20 days of your receipt of this notice, or within 20 days after the end of any appeal procedure that is provided by us to you. If within this time you file with the board a request for additional time to file a protest, the board or its executive director, upon a showing of good cause, may grant you an additional 10 days to file the protest."

(b) Subdivision (a) does not apply to either of the following:
  (1) The relocation of an existing dealership to a location that is both within the same city as, and within one mile from, the existing dealership location.
  (2) The establishment at a location that is both within the same city as, and within one-quarter mile from, the location of a dealership of the same line-make that has been out of operation for less than 90 days.
  (c) Subdivision (a) does not apply to a display of vehicles at a fair, exposition, or similar exhibit if actual sales are not made at the event and the display does not exceed 30 days. This subdivision may not be construed to prohibit a new vehicle dealer from establishing a branch office for the purpose of selling vehicles at the fair, exposition, or similar exhibit, even though the event is sponsored by a financial institution, as defined in Section 31041 of the Financial Code or by a financial institution and a licensed dealer. The establishment of these branch offices, however, shall be in accordance with subdivision (a) where applicable.
  (d) For the purposes of this section, the reopening of a dealership that has not been in operation for one year or more shall be deemed the establishment of an additional motor vehicle dealership.
  (e) As used in this section, the following definitions apply:
  (1) "Motor vehicle dealership" or "dealership" means an authorized facility at which a franchisee offers for sale or lease, displays for sale or lease, or sells or leases new motor vehicles.
  (2) "Satellite warranty facility" means a facility operated by a franchisee where authorized warranty repairs and service are performed and the offer for sale or lease, the display for sale or lease, or the sale or lease of new motor vehicles is not authorized to take place.

In determining whether good cause has been established for not entering into a franchise or relocating an existing dealership of the same line-make, the board shall take into consideration the existing circumstances, including, but not limited to, all of the following:
  (a) Permanency of the investment.
  (b) Effect on the retail motor vehicle business and the consuming public in the relevant market area.
  (c) Whether it is injurious to the public welfare for an additional franchise to be established or an existing dealership to be relocated.
  (d) Whether the franchisees of the same line-make in the relevant market area are providing adequate competition and convenient consumer care for the motor vehicles of the line-make in the market area, which shall include the adequacy of motor vehicle sales and service facilities, equipment, supply of vehicle parts, and qualified service personnel.
  (e) Whether the establishment of an additional franchise would increase competition and therefore be in the public interest.
  (f) For purposes of this section, the terms "motor vehicle dealership" and "dealership" shall have the same meaning as defined in Section 3062.

(a) Every franchisor shall specify to its franchisees the delivery and preparation obligations of the franchisees prior to delivery of new motor vehicles to retail buyers. A copy of the delivery and preparation obligations, which shall constitute the franchisee's only responsibility for product liability between the franchisee and the franchisor but shall not in any way affect the franchisee's responsibility for product liability between the purchaser and either the franchisee or the franchisor, and a schedule of compensation to be paid to franchisees for the work and services they shall be required to perform in connection with those delivery and preparation obligations shall be filed with the board by franchisors, and shall constitute the compensation as set forth on the schedule. The schedule of compensation shall be reasonable, with the reasonableness thereof being subject to the approval of the board, if a franchisee files a notice of protest with the board. In determining the reasonableness of the schedules, the board shall consider all relevant circumstances, including, but not limited to, the time required to perform each function that the dealer is obligated to perform and the appropriate labor rate.
  (b) Upon delivery of the vehicle, the franchisee shall give a copy of the delivery and preparation obligations to the purchaser and a written certification that the franchisee has fulfilled these obligations.

(a) Every franchisor shall properly fulfill every warranty agreement made by it and adequately and fairly compensate each of its franchisees for labor and parts used to fulfill that warranty when the franchisee has fulfilled warranty obligations of diagnostics, repair, and servicing and shall file a copy of its warranty reimbursement schedule or formula with the board. The warranty reimbursement schedule or formula shall be reasonable with respect to the time and compensation allowed to the franchisee for the warranty diagnostics, repair, and servicing, and all other conditions of the obligation. The reasonableness of the warranty reimbursement schedule or formula shall be determined by the board if a franchisee files a protest with the board. A franchisor shall not replace, modify, or supplement the warranty reimbursement schedule to impose a fixed percentage or other reduction in the time and compensation allowed to the franchisee for warranty repairs not attributable to a specific repair. A franchisor may reduce the allowed time and compensation applicable to a specific warranty repair only upon 15 days' prior written notice to the franchisee. Any protest challenging a reduction in time and compensation applicable to specific parts or labor operations shall be filed within six months following the franchisee' s receipt of notice of the reduction, and the franchisor shall have the burden of establishing the reasonableness of the reduction and adequacy and fairness of the resulting compensation.
  (b) In determining the adequacy and fairness of the compensation, the franchisee's effective labor rate charged to its various retail customers may be considered together with other relevant criteria. If in a protest permitted by this section filed by any franchisee the board determines that the warranty reimbursement schedule or formula fails to provide adequate and fair compensation or fails to conform with the other requirements of this section, within 30 days after receipt of the board's order, the franchisor shall correct the failure by amending or replacing the warranty reimbursement schedule or formula and implementing the correction as to all franchisees of the franchisor that are located in this state.
  (c) If any franchisor disallows a franchisee's claim for a defective part, alleging that the part, in fact, is not defective, the franchisor shall return the part alleged not to be defective to the franchisee at the expense of the franchisor, or the franchisee shall be reimbursed for the franchisee's cost of the part, at the franchisor's option.
  (d) (1) All claims made by franchisees pursuant to this section shall be either approved or disapproved within 30 days after their receipt by the franchisor. Any claim not specifically disapproved in writing within 30 days from receipt by the franchisor shall be deemed approved on the 30th day. All claims made by franchisees under this section and Section 3064 for labor and parts shall be paid within 30 days after approval.
  (2) A franchisor shall not disapprove a claim unless the claim is false or fraudulent, repairs were not properly made, repairs were inappropriate to correct a nonconformity with the written warranty due to an improper act or omission of the franchisee, or for material noncompliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory documentation and administrative claims submission requirements.
  (3) When any claim is disapproved, the franchisee who submits it shall be notified in writing of its disapproval within the required period, and each notice shall state the specific grounds upon which the disapproval is based. The franchisor shall provide for a reasonable appeal process allowing the franchisee at least 30 days after receipt of the written disapproval notice to provide additional supporting documentation or information rebutting the disapproval. If disapproval is based upon noncompliance with documentation or administrative claims submission requirements, the franchisor shall allow the franchisee at least 30 days from the date of receipt of the notice to cure any material noncompliance. If the disapproval is rebutted, and material noncompliance is cured before the applicable deadline, the franchisor shall approve the claim.
  (4) If the franchisee provides additional supporting documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval, attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim, or otherwise appeals denial of the claim and the franchisor continues to deny the claim, the franchisor shall provide the franchisee with a written notification of the final denial within 30 days of completion of the appeal process, which shall conspicuously state "Final Denial" on the first page.
  (5) Failure to approve or pay within the above specified time limits, in individual instances for reasons beyond the reasonable control of the franchisor, shall not constitute a violation of this article.
  (6) Within six months after either receipt of the written notice described in paragraph (3) or (4), whichever is later, a franchisee may file a protest with the board for determination of whether the franchisor complied with the requirements of this subdivision. In any protest pursuant to this subdivision, the franchisor shall have the burden of proof.
  (e) (1) Audits of franchisee warranty records may be conducted by the franchisor on a reasonable basis for a period of nine months after a claim is paid or credit issued. A franchisor shall not select a franchisee for an audit, or perform an audit, in a punitive, retaliatory, or unfairly discriminatory manner. A franchisor may conduct no more than one random audit of a franchisee in a nine-month period. The franchisor's notification to the franchisee of any additional audit within a nine-month period shall be accompanied by written disclosure of the basis for that additional audit.
  (2) Previously approved claims shall not be disapproved or charged back to the franchisee unless the claim is false or fraudulent, repairs were not properly made, repairs were inappropriate to correct a nonconformity with the written warranty due to an improper act or omission of the franchisee, or for material noncompliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory documentation and administrative claims submission requirements. A franchisor shall not disapprove or chargeback a claim based upon an extrapolation from a sample of claims, unless the sample of claims is selected randomly and the extrapolation is performed in a reasonable and statistically valid manner.
  (3) If the franchisor disapproves of a previously approved claim following an audit, the franchisor shall provide to the franchisee, within 30 days after the audit, a written disapproval notice stating the specific grounds upon which the claim is disapproved. The franchisor shall provide a reasonable appeal process allowing the franchisee a reasonable period of not less than 30 days after receipt of the written disapproval notice to respond to any disapproval with additional supporting documentation or information rebutting the disapproval and to cure noncompliance, with the period to be commensurate with the volume of claims under consideration. If the franchisee rebuts any disapproval and cures any material noncompliance relating to a claim before the applicable deadline, the franchisor shall not chargeback the franchisee for that claim.
  (4) If the franchisee provides additional supporting documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval, attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim, or otherwise appeals denial of the claim and the franchisor continues to deny the claim, the franchisor shall provide the franchisee with a written notification of the final denial within 30 days of completion of the appeal process, which shall conspicuously state "Final Denial" on the first page.
  (5) The franchisor shall not chargeback the franchisee until 45 days after receipt of the written notice described in paragraph (3) or paragraph (4), whichever is later. Any chargeback to a franchisee for warranty parts or service compensation shall be made within 90 days of receipt of that written notice. If the franchisee files a protest pursuant to this subdivision prior to the franchisor's chargeback for denied claims, the franchisor shall not offset or otherwise undertake to collect the chargeback until the board issues a final order on the protest. If the board sustains the chargeback or the protest is dismissed, the franchisor shall have 90 days following issuance of the final order or the dismissal to make the chargeback, unless otherwise provided in a settlement agreement.
  (6) Within six months after either receipt of the written disapproval notice or completion of the franchisor's appeal process, whichever is later, a franchisee may file a protest with the board for determination of whether the franchisor complied with this subdivision. In any protest pursuant to this subdivision, the franchisor shall have the burden of proof.
  (f) If a false claim was submitted by a franchisee with the intent to defraud the franchisor, a longer period for audit and any resulting chargeback may be permitted if the franchisor obtains an order from the board.

(a) All claims made by a franchisee for payment under the terms of a franchisor incentive program shall be either approved or disapproved within 30 days after receipt by the franchisor. When any claim is disapproved, the franchisee who submits it shall be notified in writing of its disapproval within the required period, and each notice shall state the specific grounds upon which the disapproval is based. Any claim not specifically disapproved in writing within 30 days from receipt shall be deemed approved on the 30th day.
  (b) Franchisee claims for incentive program compensation shall not be disapproved unless the claim is false or fraudulent, the claim is ineligible under the terms of the incentive program as previously communicated to the franchisee, or for material noncompliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory documentation and administrative claims submission requirements.
  (c) The franchisor shall provide for a reasonable appeal process allowing the franchisee at least 30 days after receipt of the written disapproval notice to respond to any disapproval with additional supporting documentation or information rebutting the disapproval. If disapproval is based upon noncompliance with documentation or administrative claims submission requirements, the franchisor shall allow the franchisee at least 30 days from the date of receipt of the written disapproval notice to cure any material noncompliance. If the disapproval is rebutted, and material noncompliance is cured before the applicable deadline, the franchisor shall approve the claim.
  (d) If the franchisee provides additional supporting documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval, attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim, or otherwise appeals denial of the claim, and the franchisor continues to deny the claim, the franchisor shall provide the franchisee with a written notification of the final denial within 30 days of completion of the appeal process, which shall conspicuously state "Final Denial" on the first page.
  (e) Following the disapproval of a claim, a franchisee shall have six months from receipt of the written notice described in either subdivision (a) or (d), whichever is later, to file a protest with the board for determination of whether the franchisor complied with subdivisions (a), (b), (c), and (d). In any hearing pursuant to this subdivision or subdivision (a), (b), (c), or (d), the franchisor shall have the burden of proof.
  (f) All claims made by franchisees under this section shall be paid within 30 days following approval. Failure to approve or pay within the above specified time limits, in individual instances for reasons beyond the reasonable control of the franchisor, do not constitute a violation of this article.
  (g) (1) Audits of franchisee incentive records may be conducted by the franchisor on a reasonable basis, and for a period of nine months after a claim is paid or credit issued. A franchisor shall not select a franchisee for an audit, or perform an audit, in a punitive, retaliatory, or unfairly discriminatory manner. A franchisor may conduct no more than one random audit of a franchisee in a nine-month period. The franchisor's notification to the franchisee of any additional audit within a nine-month period shall be accompanied by written disclosure of the basis for that additional audit.
  (2) Previously approved claims shall not be disapproved and charged back unless the claim is false or fraudulent, the claim is ineligible under the terms of the incentive program as previously communicated to the franchisee, or for material noncompliance with reasonable and nondiscriminatory documentation and administrative claims submission requirements. A franchisor shall not disapprove a claim or chargeback a claim based upon an extrapolation from a sample of claims, unless the sample of claims is selected randomly and the extrapolation is performed in a reasonable and statistically valid manner.
  (3) If the franchisor disapproves of a previously approved claim following an audit, the franchisor shall provide to the franchisee, within 30 days after the audit, a written disapproval notice stating the specific grounds upon which the claim is disapproved. The franchisor shall provide a reasonable appeal process allowing the franchisee a reasonable period of not less than 30 days after receipt of the written disapproval notice to respond to any disapproval with additional supporting documentation or information rebutting the disapproval and to cure any material noncompliance, with the period to be commensurate with the volume of claims under consideration. If the franchisee rebuts any disapproval and cures any material noncompliance relating to a claim before the applicable deadline, the franchisor shall not chargeback the franchisee for that claim.
  (4) If the franchisee provides additional supporting documentation or information purporting to rebut the disapproval, attempts to cure noncompliance relating to the claim, or otherwise appeals denial of the claim, and the franchisor continues to deny the claim, the franchisor shall provide the franchisee with a written notification of the final denial within 30 days of completion of the appeal process, which shall conspicuously state "Final Denial" on the first page.
  (5) The franchisor shall not chargeback the franchisee until 45 days after the franchisee receives the written notice described in paragraph (3) or (4), whichever is later. If the franchisee cures any material noncompliance relating to a claim, the franchisor shall not chargeback the dealer for that claim. Any chargeback to a franchisee for incentive program compensation shall be made within 90 days after the franchisee receives that written notice. If the board sustains the chargeback or the protest is dismissed, the franchisor shall have 90 days following issuance of the final order or the dismissal to make the chargeback, unless otherwise provided in a settlement agreement.
  (6) Within six months after either receipt of the written notice described in paragraph (3) or (4), a franchisee may file a protest with the board for determination of whether the franchisor complied with this subdivision. If the franchisee files a protest pursuant to this subdivision prior to the franchisor's chargeback for denied claims, the franchisor shall not offset or otherwise undertake to collect the chargeback until the board issues a final order on the protest. In any protest pursuant to this subdivision, the franchisor shall have the burden of proof.
  (h) If a false claim was submitted by a franchisee with the intent to defraud the franchisor, a longer period for audit and any resulting chargeback may be permitted if the franchisor obtains an order from the board.

(a) Upon receiving a protest pursuant to Section 3060, 3062, 3064, 3065, or 3065.1, the board shall fix a time within 60 days of the order, and place of hearing, and shall send by certified mail a copy of the order to the franchisor, the protesting franchisee, and all individuals and groups that have requested notification by the board of protests and decisions of the board. Except in a case involving a franchisee who deals exclusively in motorcycles, the board or its executive director may, upon a showing of good cause, accelerate or postpone the date initially established for a hearing, but the hearing shall not be rescheduled more than 90 days after the board's initial order. For the purpose of accelerating or postponing a hearing date, "good cause" includes, but is not limited to, the effects upon, and any irreparable harm to, the parties or interested persons or groups if the request for a change in hearing date is not granted. The board or an administrative law judge designated by the board shall hear and consider the oral and documented evidence introduced by the parties and other interested individuals and groups, and the board shall make its decision solely on the record so made. Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code and Sections 11507.3, 11507.6, 11507.7, 11511, 11511.5, 11513, 11514, 11515, and 11517 of the Government Code apply to these proceedings.
  (b) In a hearing on a protest filed pursuant to Section 3060 or 3062 the franchisor shall have the burden of proof to establish that there is good cause to modify, replace, terminate, or refuse to continue a franchise. The franchisee shall have the burden of proof to establish that there is good cause not to enter into a franchise establishing an additional motor vehicle dealership or relocating an existing motor vehicle dealership.
  (c) Except as otherwise provided in this chapter, in a hearing on a protest alleging a violation of, or filed pursuant to, Section 3064, 3065, or 3065.1, the franchisee shall have the burden of proof, but the franchisor has the burden of proof to establish that a franchisee acted with intent to defraud the franchisor when that issue is material to a protest filed pursuant to Section 3065 or 3065.1.
  (d) A member of the board who is a new motor vehicle dealer may not participate in, hear, comment, or advise other members upon, or decide, a matter involving a protest filed pursuant to this article unless all parties to the protest stipulate otherwise.

(a) The decision of the board shall be in writing and shall contain findings of fact and a determination of the issues presented. The decision shall sustain, conditionally sustain, overrule, or conditionally overrule the protest. Conditions imposed by the board shall be for the purpose of assuring performance of binding contractual agreements between franchisees and franchisors or otherwise serving the purposes of this article. If the board fails to act within 30 days after the hearing, within 30 days after the board receives a proposed decision when the case is heard before an administrative law judge alone, or within a period necessitated by Section 11517 of the Government Code, or as may be mutually agreed upon by the parties, then the proposed action shall be deemed to be approved. Copies of the board's decision shall be delivered to the parties personally or sent to them by certified mail, as well as to all individuals and groups that have requested notification by the board of protests and decisions by the board. The board's decision shall be final upon its delivery or mailing and a reconsideration or rehearing is not permitted.
  (b) Notwithstanding subdivision (c) of Section 11517 of the Government Code, if a protest is heard by an administrative law judge alone, 10 days after receipt by the board of the administrative law judge's proposed decision, a copy of the proposed decision shall be filed by the board as a public record and a copy shall be served by the board on each party and his or her attorney.

Either party may seek judicial review of final decisions of the board. Time for filing for the review shall not be more than 45 days from the date on which the final order of the board is made public and is delivered to the parties personally or is sent to them by certified mail.

The provisions of this article shall be applicable to all franchises existing between dealers and manufacturers, manufacturer branches, distributors and distributor branches at the time of its enactment and to all such future franchises.

Sections 3060 to 3065.1, inclusive, do not apply to a franchise authorizing a dealership, as defined in subdivision (d) of Section 3072.