(a) The board shall determine an applicant’s eligibility for a claim for corrective action costs or third-party compensation costs pursuant to Section 25299.57 or 25299.58 and notify the applicant of that determination within 60 days from the date of the receipt of the fund application. The board may classify the claimant’s application pursuant to Section 25299.52 after that 60-day period. If the board sends an applicant a determination of eligibility pursuant to this subdivision, the board shall not revoke that determination of eligibility, unless the application contained fraudulent information or a misrepresentation. However, the board may suspend making a reimbursement for a claim until the claimant corrects any deficiencies that are the basis for the suspension. Reinstatement of reimbursement shall occur when funds are available and that reinstatement shall be made ahead of any new letters of commitment issued as of the date of reinstatement.

(b) A claimant may request review of any determination of eligibility or disapproval of reimbursement. The review shall be conducted and a decision rendered within 30 days from the date of receipt of the request.

(c) A claimant may file a petition for review, in writing, with the board with regard to any determination or disapproval that is unresolved to the satisfaction of the claimant upon expiration of the 30-day period specified in subdivision (b) and the board shall take final action on the petition within 90 days of the board’s receipt of a complete petition for review, except that if the board initiates an adjudicative proceeding on the petition, the board shall take final action within 270 days of the board’s receipt of a complete petition for review.

(d) Final action on a petition taken by the board is a final agency action for the purposes of judicial review of a board decision.

(e) A claimant may, not later than 30 days from the date of final action by the board pursuant to subdivision (c), file with the superior court a petition for writ of mandate for review of the decision. If the claimant does not file a petition for writ of mandate within the time provided by this subdivision, a board decision shall not be subject to review by the court. Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure shall govern the proceeding for a petition filed pursuant to this subdivision. For purposes of subdivision (c) of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, the court shall uphold the decision if the decision is based upon substantial evidence in light of the whole record.

(f) Except as specified in subdivision (g), the procedures in Article 8 (commencing with Section 11435.05) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of, and in Section 11513 of, the Government Code apply to any adjudicative proceedings conducted by the board pursuant to this article.

(g) (1) Notwithstanding subdivision (f), Sections 801, 802, 803, 804, and 805 of the Evidence Code apply to any adjudicative proceeding conducted by the board pursuant to this article.

(2) This section is not a limitation on the authority of the board to authorize the use of the procedure provided in Article 10 (commencing with Section 11445.10) of Chapter 4.5 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code.

(Amended by Stats. 2014, Ch. 544, Sec. 11. (SB 1458) Effective January 1, 2015. Repealed as of January 1, 2026, pursuant to Section 25299.81.)