4705.5. (Added by Stats. 2022, Ch. 49, Sec. 33.)

(a) Unless the claimant is themselves an attorney licensed to practice law in California, or unless the claimant will have an attorney licensed to practice law in California in attendance, a regional center attorney or department attorney shall not attend an informal meeting, mediation, or fair hearing described in this chapter. The claimant shall notify the regional center and the hearing office at least 5 days prior to mediation, and 15 days prior to a fair hearing, that the claimant will have an attorney in attendance. However, the hearing officer may notify the parties in advance of a hearing that the hearing officer is allowing the attendance of an attorney in the interest of justice.

(b) This section shall become operative on October 1, 2022.