(a) Any person, before filing a civil action pursuant to Sections 91004 and 91005, must first file with the civil prosecutor a written request for the civil prosecutor to commence the action. The request shall include a statement of the grounds for believing a cause of action exists. The civil prosecutor shall respond to the person in writing, indicating whether he or she intends to file a civil action.

(1) If the civil prosecutor responds in the affirmative and files suit within 120 days from receipt of the written request to commence the action, no other action may be brought unless the action brought by the civil prosecutor is dismissed without prejudice as provided for in Section 91008.

(2) If the civil prosecutor responds in the negative within 120 days from receipt of the written request to commence the action, the person requesting the action may proceed to file a civil action upon receipt of the response from the civil prosecutor. If, pursuant to this subdivision, the civil prosecutor does not respond within 120 days, the civil prosecutor shall be deemed to have provided a negative written response to the person requesting the action on the 120th day and the person shall be deemed to have received that response.

(3) The time period within which a civil action shall be commenced, as set forth in Section 91011, shall be tolled from the date of receipt by the civil prosecutor of the written request to either the date that the civil action is dismissed without prejudice or the date of receipt by the person of the negative response from the civil prosecutor, but only for a civil action brought by the person who requested the civil prosecutor to commence the action.

(b) Any person filing a complaint, cross-complaint, or other initial pleading in a civil action pursuant to Section 91003, 91004, 91005, or 91005.5 shall, within 10 days of filing the complaint, cross-complaint, or initial pleading, serve on the commission a copy of the complaint, cross-complaint, or initial pleading or a notice containing all of the following:

(1) The full title and number of the case.

(2) The court in which the case is pending.

(3) The name and address of the attorney for the person filing the complaint, cross-complaint, or other initial pleading.

(4) A statement that the case raises issues under the Political Reform Act of 1974.

(c) No complaint, cross-complaint, or other initial pleading shall be dismissed for failure to comply with subdivision (b).

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 135, Sec. 85. Effective January 1, 2001. Note: This section was added on June 4, 1974, by initiative Prop. 9.)