ARTICLE 5. Alternative Dispute Resolution [11420.10. - 11420.30.]

Cal. Government Code - GOV 5.

in effect

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 11420.10. Section 11420.10.

(a) An agency, with the consent of all the parties, may refer a dispute that is the subject of an adjudicative proceeding for resolution by any of the following means: (1) Mediation by a neutral mediator. (2) Binding arbitration by a neutral arbitrator. An award in a binding arbitration is subject to judicial review in the manner provided in Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 1285) of Title 9 of Part 3 of the Code of Civil Procedure. (3) Nonbinding arbitration by a neutral arbitrator. The arbitrator’s decision in a nonbinding arbitration is final unless within 30 days after the arbitrator delivers the award to the agency head a party requests that the agency conduct a de novo adjudicative proceeding. If the decision in the de novo proceeding is not more favorable to the party electing the de novo proceeding, the party shall pay the costs and fees specified in Section 1141.21 of the Code of Civil Procedure insofar as applicable in the adjudicative proceeding. (b) If another statute requires mediation or arbitration in an adjudicative proceeding, that statute prevails over this section. (c) This section does not apply in an adjudicative proceeding to the extent an agency by regulation provides that this section is not applicable in a proceeding of the agency.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 11420.20. Section 11420.20.

(a) The Office of Administrative Hearings shall adopt and promulgate model regulations for alternative dispute resolution under this article. The model regulations govern alternative dispute resolution by an agency under this article, except to the extent the agency by regulation provides inconsistent rules or provides that the model regulations are not applicable in a proceeding of the agency. (b) The model regulations shall include provisions for selection and compensation of a mediator or arbitrator, qualifications of a mediator or arbitrator, and confidentiality of the mediation or arbitration proceeding.

Cal. Government Code - GOV § 11420.30. Section 11420.30.

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a communication made in alternative dispute resolution under this article is protected to the following extent: (a) Anything said, any admission made, and any document prepared in the course of, or pursuant to, mediation under this article is a confidential communication, and a party to the mediation has a privilege to refuse to disclose and to prevent another from disclosing the communication, whether in an adjudicative proceeding, civil action, or other proceeding. This subdivision does not limit the admissibility of evidence if all parties to the proceedings consent. (b) No reference to nonbinding arbitration proceedings, a decision of the arbitrator that is rejected by a party’s request for a de novo adjudicative proceeding, the evidence produced, or any other aspect of the arbitration may be made in an adjudicative proceeding or civil action, whether as affirmative evidence, by way of impeachment, or for any other purpose. (c) No mediator or arbitrator is competent to testify in a subsequent administrative or civil proceeding as to any statement, conduct, decision, or order occurring at, or in conjunction with, the alternative dispute resolution. (d) Evidence otherwise admissible outside of alternative dispute resolution under this article is not inadmissible or protected from disclosure solely by reason of its introduction or use in alternative dispute resolution under this article.

Source: CA Legislative Counsel Bulk DataURL: https://downloads.leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/pubinfo_2025.zipFetched: 6/27/2026