(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of state law, and to the extent not in conflict with federal law, if a principal agency is not designated by statute, a principal state agency shall be designated by the Governor for the coordination of procedures, forms, and deadlines in every area of regulatory activity under the state’s jurisdiction, as determined by the Governor. All other state agencies shall defer to the principal agency in the performance of their duties in a particular regulatory area, or upon a particular project, with respect to procedures, forms, and deadlines, but not with respect to any other area of authority.
(b) This section shall not apply to the processing of any permit pursuant to Division 34 (commencing with Section 71000) of the Public Resources Code.
(c) No part of this section shall be construed to limit the authority of any agency to hold public hearings on any matter within the jurisdiction of that agency.
(d) No part of this section shall be construed to authorize any state agency to adopt or implement procedures, forms, or deadlines in conflict with those explicitly specified in statute or in conflict with the Administrative Procedure Act (Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340), Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 11370), Chapter 4.5 (commencing with Section 11400), and Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500)).
(e) Nothing in this section shall be construed to confer upon any state agency decisionmaking authority over substantive matters within another agency’s jurisdiction, including any informational and public hearing requirements needed to make regulatory and permitting decisions.
(f) As used in this section, “agency” and “principal agency” shall not mean a court or any office of the judicial branch of government.
(Amended by Stats. 1996, Ch. 390, Sec. 3. Effective August 19, 1996. Operative July 1, 1997, by Sec. 11 of Ch. 390.)