California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11468.4

(1) Adopt the proposed decision with or without reading or hearing the record.

(2) Reject the proposed decision and adopt an alternative decision based upon the documentary and electronically recorded record, with or without taking additional evidence.

(3) Refer the matter to the same or a different hearing officer to take additional evidence. If the case is so assigned, the hearing officer shall, within 90 days, prepare a proposed decision, based upon the additional evidence and the documentary and electronically recorded record of the prior hearing. The department may then take one of the actions described in subdivision (c) in regard to the new proposed decision. The department may return a proposed decision only twice on the same appeal.

(d)(1) The department's decision shall be final when the decision is mailed to the parties. However, the department retains jurisdiction to correct clerical errors.

(2) Copies of the final decision of the department, and the hearing officer's proposed decision if it was not adopted by the department, shall be mailed by certified mail to the parties.