(a) Subject to any applicable regulation adopted under Section 11470.50, at any point in an agency proceeding the presiding officer or other agency official responsible for the proceeding:
(1) May convert the proceeding to another type of agency proceeding provided for by statute if the conversion is appropriate, is in the public interest, and does not substantially prejudice the rights of a party.
(2) Shall convert the proceeding to another type of agency proceeding provided for by statute, if required by regulation or statute.
(b) A proceeding of one type may be converted to a proceeding of another type only on notice to all parties to the original proceeding.
(Added by Stats. 1995, Ch. 938, Sec. 21. Effective January 1, 1996. Operative July 1, 1997, by Sec. 98 of Ch. 938 and Section 11400.10.)