The appeal shall be submitted to the secretary in writing within 30 days of the date the action, or the letter proposing the action. The secretary’s proceeding shall, insofar as practicable, comply with the provisions of the Administrative Procedure Act, Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, except that a department hearing officer may be used.
Source:
Section 46016.4, https://leginfo.legislature.ca.gov/faces/codes_displaySection.xhtml?lawCode=FAC§ionNum=46016.4..