California Code, Government Code - GOV § 955.3

Notwithstanding any provision of law, when a city, county, or city and county, or local agency is a plaintiff in an action or proceeding against the State of California, the action may be tried in any city or county, or city and county, where the city, county, or city and county, or local agency is situated.

The Attorney General may, on behalf of the State of California, before answering, move to change the place of trial to Sacramento County in accordance with the provisions of Section 397 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

For the purposes of this section, “local agency” means any governmental district, board, or agency, or any other local governmental body or corporation, or elected local public official, but shall not include the State of California or any of its agencies, departments, commissions, or boards, or elected public officials in the executive branch of the state government.