(a) Any civil action under this division by, or against, a city, county, or city and county, the commission, special district, or any other public agency shall, upon motion of either party, be transferred to a county or city and county not a party to the action or to a county or city and county other than that in which the city, special district, or any other public agency which is a party to the action is located.
(b) In any action brought by or against any local government, other than an action brought by or against the commission, that involves the enforcement or implementation of its certified local coastal program, the Department of Justice shall, upon the request of the local government, provide such legal assistance as its resources permit.