The department may employ legal counsel who shall advise the director, represent the department in connection with legal matters before other boards and agencies of the state, and may, when authorized by the Attorney General, represent the department and the state in litigation concerning affairs of the department. In any event, the legal counsel of the department may, with the approval of the director and with the consent of the court before which the action is pending, present to the court the views of the department with respect to the action. Sections 955.4, 955.6, 11041, 11042, 11043, and the first sentence of Section 11157 of the Government Code do not apply to the department.
(Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 142, Sec. 174.)