California Code, Government Code - GOV § 19803

(a) The Department of Human Resources shall administer the merit system for employees engaged in administering programs under Section 19800 in a local agency not administering its own merit system approved under this chapter.  The Department of Human Resources may delegate any of its duties under this article to a state department or agency.  This may include, but is not limited to, recruitment, examination, certification, appointment and other transactions, position classification, compensation standards, and disciplinary actions.  As part of such administration, the Department of Human Resources shall hear and decide appeals of any applicant for employment or officer or employee from the decision of a local agency affecting the employment rights of those persons.  Any decision rendered in such an appeal shall be binding upon the local agency.

(b) The Department of Human Resources may bill the state departments having responsibility for the overall administration of grant-in-aid programs for the costs incurred in conducting hearings involving employees of local agencies not administering their own merit systems pursuant to this chapter.  Pursuant to Section 11255, the Controller shall transfer to the Department of Human Resources any moneys owed to that department by any state department for charges due under this subdivision.