(a) The Commissioner of the California Highway Patrol may enter into agreements with providers of towing, emergency road, and storage services for the purpose of determining which providers shall be summoned by the department when those services are necessary for public assistance or to carry out the duties and responsibilities of the department. Chapter 3.5 (commencing with Section 11340) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code shall not apply to the agreements. The department shall confer with the towing industry, as necessary, to reach agreements mutually beneficial to the public, the towing industry, and the department.
(b) This section does not prohibit a member of the public from selecting any vehicle towing, emergency road service, or storage provider, except when towing or storage is ordered by a member of the department under the provisions of law.
(c) These agreements shall be implemented in cooperation with representatives of the towing industry, and shall include, but not be limited to, the following subjects: liability insurance requirements, towing, emergency road service, and storage fees, inspection of business and storage facilities and equipment, recordkeeping, minimum equipment requirements, and the establishment of tow districts.
(d) Failure of a towing, emergency road service, or storage provider to comply with the provisions of the agreement may result in the suspension or termination of the agreement. In the event of suspension or termination of the agreement, and at the request of the towing, emergency road service, or storage provider, the department shall provide a hearing and appeal process to the provider.
(e) Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code does not apply to the hearing and appeal process specified in subdivision (d).