Article 1 - General

California Government Code — §§ 910-913.2

Sections (19)

Amended by Stats. 1998, Ch. 931, Sec. 174. Effective September 28, 1998.

A claim shall be presented by the claimant or by a person acting on his or her behalf and shall show all of the following:

(a)The name and post office address of the claimant.

(b)The post office address to which the person presenting the claim desires notices to be sent.

(c)The date, place and other circumstances of the occurrence or transaction which gave rise to the claim asserted.

(d)A general description of the indebtedness, obligation, injury, damage or loss incurred so far as it may be known at the time of presentation of the claim.

(e)The name or names of the public employee or employees causing the injury, damage, or loss, if known.

(f)The amount claimed if it totals less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) as of the date of presentation of the claim, including the estimated amount of any prospective injury, damage, or loss, insofar as it may be known at the time of the presentation of the claim, together with the basis of computation of the amount claimed. If the amount claimed exceeds ten thousand dollars ($10,000), no dollar amount shall be included in the claim. However, it shall indicate whether the claim would be a limited civil case.

§ 910.2

Added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1715.

The claim shall be signed by the claimant or by some person on his behalf. Claims against local public entities for supplies, materials, equipment or services need not be signed by the claimant or on his behalf if presented on a billhead or invoice regularly used in the conduct of the business of the claimant.

§ 910.4

Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 706, Sec. 19. Effective January 1, 2006.

The board shall provide forms specifying the information to be contained in claims against the state or a judicial branch entity. The person presenting a claim shall use the form in order that his or her claim is deemed in conformity with Sections 910 and 910.2. A claim may be returned to the person if it was not presented using the form. Any claim returned to a person may be resubmitted using the appropriate form.

§ 910.6

Added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1715.

(a)A claim may be amended at any time before the expiration of the period designated in Section 911.2 or before final action thereon is taken by the board, whichever is later, if the claim as amended relates to the same transaction or occurrence which gave rise to the original claim. The amendment shall be considered a part of the original claim for all purposes.

(b)A failure or refusal to amend a claim, whether or not notice of insufficiency is given under Section 910.8, shall not constitute a defense to any action brought upon the cause of action for which the claim was presented if the court finds that the claim as presented complied substantially with Sections 910 and 910.2 or a form provided under Section 910.4.

§ 910.8

Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 184, Sec. 2. Effective September 6, 2005.

If, in the opinion of the board or the person designated by it, a claim as presented fails to comply substantially with the requirements of Sections 910 and 910.2, or with the requirements of a form provided under Section 910.4 if a claim is presented pursuant thereto, the board or the person may, at any time within 20 days after the claim is presented, give written notice of its insufficiency, stating with particularity the defects or omissions therein. The notice shall be given in the manner prescribed by Section 915.4. The board may not take action on the claim for a period of 15 days after the notice is given.

§ 911

Amended by Stats. 2005, Ch. 184, Sec. 3. Effective September 6, 2005.

Any defense as to the sufficiency of the claim based upon a defect or omission in the claim as presented is waived by failure to give notice of insufficiency with respect to the defect or omission as provided in Section 910.8, except that no notice need be given and no waiver shall result when the claim as presented fails to state either an address to which the person presenting the claim desires notices to be sent or an address of the claimant.

§ 911.2

Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 31, Sec. 38. (SB 836) Effective June 27, 2016.

(a)A claim relating to a cause of action for death or for injury to person or to personal property or growing crops shall be presented as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) not later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action. A claim relating to any other cause of action shall be presented as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) not later than one year after the accrual of the cause of action.

(b)For purposes of determining whether a claim was commenced within the period provided by law, the date the claim was presented to the Department of General Services is one of the following:

(1)The date the claim is submitted with a twenty-five dollar ($25) filing fee.

(2)If a fee waiver is granted, the date the claim was submitted with the affidavit requesting the fee waiver.

(3)If a fee waiver is denied, the date the claim was submitted with the affidavit requesting the fee waiver, provided the filing fee is paid to the department within 10 calendar days of the mailing of the notice of the denial of the fee waiver.

§ 911.3

Amended by Stats. 1987, Ch. 1208, Sec. 4.

(a)When a claim that is required by Section 911.2 to be presented not later than six months after accrual of the cause of action is presented after such time without the application provided in Section 911.4, the board or other person designated by it may, at any time within 45 days after the claim is presented, give written notice to the person presenting the claim that the claim was not filed timely and that it is being returned without further action. The notice shall be in substantially the following form:

“The claim you presented to the (insert title of board or officer) on (indicate date) is being returned because it was not presented within six months after the event or occurrence as required by law. See Sections 901 and 911.2 of the Government Code. Because the claim was not presented within the time allowed by law, no action was taken on the claim.

Your only recourse at this time is to apply without delay to (name of public entity) for leave to present a late claim. See Sections 911.4 to 912.2, inclusive, and Section 946.6 of the Government Code. Under some circumstances, leave to present a late claim will be granted. See Section 911.6 of the Government Code.

You may seek the advice of an attorney of your choice in connection with this matter. If you desire to consult an attorney, you should do so immediately.”

(b)Any defense as to the time limit for presenting a claim described in subdivision (a) is waived by failure to give the notice set forth in subdivision (a) within 45 days after the claim is presented, except that no notice need be given and no waiver shall result when the claim as presented fails to state either an address to which the person presenting the claim desires notices to be sent or an address of the claimant.

§ 911.4

Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 847, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.

(a)When a claim that is required by Section 911.2 to be presented not later than six months after the accrual of the cause of action is not presented within that time, a written application may be made to the public entity for leave to present that claim.

(b)The application shall be presented to the public entity as provided in Article 2 (commencing with Section 915) within a reasonable time not to exceed one year after the accrual of the cause of action and shall state the reason for the delay in presenting the claim. The proposed claim shall be attached to the application.

(c)In computing the one-year period under subdivision (b), the following shall apply:

(1)The time during which the person who sustained the alleged injury, damage, or loss as a minor shall be counted, but the time during which he or she is mentally incapacitated and does not have a guardian or conservator of his or her person shall not be counted.

(2)The time shall not be counted during which the person is detained or adjudged to be a dependent child of the juvenile court under the Arnold-Kennick Juvenile Court Law (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code), if both of the following conditions exist:

(A)The person is in the custody and control of an agency of the public entity to which a claim is to be presented.

(B)The public entity or its agency having custody and control of the minor is required by statute or other law to make a report of injury, abuse, or neglect to either the juvenile court or the minor’s attorney, and that entity or its agency fails to make this report within the time required by the statute or other enactment, with this time period to commence on the date on which the public entity or its agency becomes aware of the injury, neglect, or abuse. In circumstances where the public entity or its agency makes a late report, the claim period shall be tolled for the period of the delay caused by the failure to make a timely report.

(3)The time shall not be counted during which a minor is adjudged to be a dependent child of the juvenile court under the Arnold-Kennick Juvenile Court Law (Chapter 2 (commencing with Section 200) of Part 1 of Division 2 of the Welfare and Institutions Code), if the minor is without a guardian ad litem or conservator for purposes of filing civil actions.

§ 911.6

Amended by Stats. 2021, Ch. 218, Sec. 1. (SB 501) Effective January 1, 2022.

(a)The board shall grant or deny the application within 45 days after it is presented to the board. The claimant and the board may extend the period within which the board is required to act on the application by written agreement made before the expiration of the period.

(b)The board shall grant the application if one or more of the following is applicable:

(1)The failure to present the claim was through mistake, inadvertence, surprise, or excusable neglect and the public entity was not prejudiced in its defense of the claim by the failure to present the claim within the time specified

in Section 911.2.

(2)The person who sustained the alleged injury, damage, or loss was a minor during all of the time specified in Section 911.2 for the presentation of the claim.

(3)The person who sustained the alleged injury, damage, or loss was a minor during any of the time specified in Section 911.2 for the presentation of the claim, provided the application is presented within six months of the person turning 18 years of age or a year after the claim accrues, whichever occurs first.

(4)The person who sustained the alleged injury, damage, or loss was physically or mentally incapacitated during all of the time specified in Section 911.2 for the presentation of the claim and by reason of that disability failed to present a claim during that time.

(5)The person who sustained the alleged injury, damage, or loss was physically or mentally incapacitated during any of the time specified in Section 911.2 for the presentation of the claim and by reason of that disability failed to present a claim during that time, provided the application is presented within six months of the person no longer being physically or mentally incapacitated, or a year after the claim accrues, whichever occurs first.

(6)The person who sustained the alleged injury, damage, or loss died before the expiration of the time specified in Section 911.2 for the presentation of the claim.

(c)If the board fails or refuses to act on an application within the time prescribed by this section, the application

shall be deemed to have been denied on the 45th day or, if the period within which the board is required to act is extended by agreement pursuant to this section, the last day of the period specified in the agreement.

§ 911.8

Amended by Stats. 1974, Ch. 620.

(a)Written notice of the board’s action upon the application shall be given in the manner prescribed by Section 915.4.

(b)If the application is denied, the notice shall include a warning in substantially the following form:

“WARNING

“If you wish to file a court action on this matter, you must first petition the appropriate court for an order relieving you from the provisions of Government Code Section 945.4 (claims presentation requirement). See Government Code Section 946.6. Such petition must be filed with the court within six (6) months from the date your application for leave to present a late claim was denied.

“You may seek the advice of an attorney of your choice in connection with this matter. If you desire to consult an attorney, you should do so immediately.”

§ 912.2

Amended by Stats. 1965, Ch. 653.

If an application for leave to present a claim is granted by the board pursuant to Section 911.6, the claim shall be deemed to have been presented to the board upon the day that leave to present the claim is granted.

§ 912.4

Amended by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1007, Sec. 3. Effective January 1, 2003.

(a)The board shall act on a claim in the manner provided in Section 912.6, 912.7, or 912.8 within 45 days after the claim has been presented. If a claim is amended, the board shall act on the amended claim within 45 days after the amended claim is presented.

(b)The claimant and the board may extend the period within which the board is required to act on the claim by written agreement made either:

(1)Before the expiration of the period.

(2)After the expiration of the period if an action based on the claim has not been commenced and is not yet barred by the period of limitations provided in Section 945.6.

(c)If the board fails or refuses to act on a claim within the time prescribed by this section, the claim shall be deemed to have been rejected by the board on the last day of the period within which the board was required to act upon the claim. If the period within which the board is required to act is extended by agreement pursuant to this section, the last day of the period within which the board is required to act shall be the last day of the period specified in the agreement.

§ 912.5

Amended by Stats. 2016, Ch. 31, Sec. 39. (SB 836) Effective June 27, 2016.

(a)The Trustees of the California State University shall act on a claim against the California State University in accordance with the procedure that the Trustees of the California State University provide by rule.

(b)Nothing in this section authorizes the Trustees of the California State University to adopt any rule that is inconsistent with this part.

(c)If a claim for money or damages against the California State University is mistakenly presented to the Department of General Services, the Department of General Services shall immediately notify the claimant of the error and shall include information on proper filing of the

claim.

§ 912.6

Amended by Stats. 1980, Ch. 215.

(a)In the case of a claim against a local public entity, the board may act on a claim in one of the following ways:

(1)If the board finds the claim is not a proper charge against the public entity, it shall reject the claim.

(2)If the board finds the claim is a proper charge against the public entity and is for an amount justly due, it shall allow the claim.

(3)If the board finds the claim is a proper charge against the public entity but is for an amount greater than is justly due, it shall either reject the claim or allow it in the amount justly due and reject it as to the balance.

(4)If legal liability of the public entity or the amount justly due is disputed, the board may reject the claim or may compromise the claim.

(b)In the case of a claim against a local public entity, if the board allows the claim in whole or in part or compromises the claim, it may require the claimant, if the claimant accepts the amount allowed or offered to settle the claim, to accept it in settlement of the entire claim.

(c)Subject to subdivision (b), the local public entity shall pay the amount allowed on the claim or in compromise of the claim in the same manner as if the claimant had obtained a final judgment against the local public entity for that amount, but the claim may be paid in not exceeding 10 equal annual installments as provided in Section 970.6 only if the claimant agrees in writing to that method of payment and in such case no court order authorizing installment payments is required. If an agreement for payment of the claim in installments is made, the local public entity, in its discretion, may prepay any one or more installments or any part of an installment.

§ 912.7

Added by Stats. 2002, Ch. 1007, Sec. 4. Effective January 1, 2003.

The Judicial Council shall act on a claim against a judicial branch entity or judge of one of those entities in accordance with the procedure that the Judicial Council provides by rule of court. The Judicial Council may authorize any committee of the Judicial Council or employee of the Administrative Office of the Courts to perform the functions of the Judicial Council under this part.

§ 912.8

Amended by Stats. 2004, Ch. 183, Sec. 131. Effective January 1, 2005.

Except as provided in Section 912.7, in the case of claims against the state, the board shall act on claims in accordance with that procedure as the board, by rule, may prescribe. It may hear evidence for and against the claims and, with the approval of the Governor, report to the Legislature those facts and recommendations concerning the claims as it deems proper. In making recommendations, the board may state and use any official or personal knowledge that any member may have regarding any claim. The board may authorize any employee of the state to perform the functions of the board under this part as are prescribed by the board.

§ 913

Amended by Stats. 2010, Ch. 636, Sec. 5. (SB 1046) Effective January 1, 2011.

(a)Written notice of the action taken under Section 912.5, 912.6, 912.7, or 912.8 or the inaction that is deemed rejection under Section 912.4 shall be given in the manner prescribed by Section 915.4. The notice may be in substantially the following form:

“Notice is hereby given that the claim that you presented to the (insert title of board or officer) on (indicate date) was (indicate whether rejected, allowed, allowed in the amount of $____ and rejected as to the balance, rejected by operation of law, or other appropriate language, whichever is applicable) on (indicate date of action or rejection by operation of law).”

(b)If the claim is

rejected, in whole or in part, the notice required by subdivision (a) shall include a warning in substantially the following form:

“WARNING

“Subject to certain exceptions, you have only six (6) months from the date this notice was personally delivered or deposited in the mail to file a court action on this claim. See Government Code Section 945.6.

“You may seek the advice of an attorney of your choice in connection with this matter. If you desire to consult an attorney, you should do so immediately.”

§ 913.2

Added by Stats. 1963, Ch. 1715.

The board may, in its discretion, within the time prescribed by Section 945.6 for commencing an action on the claim, re-examine a previously rejected claim in order to consider a settlement of the claim.