10953. (Amended by Stats. 1986, Ch. 415, Sec. 3.)

A hearing under this chapter shall be conducted by administrative law judges employed by the department, unless the director orders that it shall be conducted by himself or herself. However, the director may contract with the Office of Administrative Hearings to conduct hearings. Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to any hearing conducted under this chapter.