Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 10958

If the hearing is conducted by an administrative law judge, he or she shall prepare a fair, impartial, and independent proposed decision, in writing and in such format that it may be adopted as the director’s decision and, after approval of the decision by the chief administrative law judge of the department, the chief administrative law judge shall file a copy of the proposed decision, within 75 days after the conclusion of the hearing, with the director.