California Code, Business and Professions Code - BPC § 132

No board, commission, examining committee, or any other agency within the department may institute or join any legal action against any other agency within the state or federal government without the permission of the director.

Prior to instituting or joining in a legal action against an agency of the state or federal government, a board, commission, examining committee, or any other agency within the department shall present a written request to the director to do so.

Within 30 days of receipt of the request, the director shall communicate the director's approval or denial of the request and the director's reasons for approval or denial to the requesting agency in writing. If the director does not act within 30 days, the request shall be deemed approved.

A requesting agency within the department may override the director's denial of its request to institute or join a legal action against a state or federal agency by a two-thirds vote of the members of the board, commission, examining committee, or other agency, which vote shall include the vote of at least one public member of that board, commission, examining committee, or other agency.