Government Claims and Service of Process

Government Claims

If you are seeking to file a government claim against the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges or the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, you must file your claim with the California Department of General Services. Learn more about how to file a government claim for eligible compensation — See Gov. Code, §§ 900.6, 910.

Community college districts are independent local agencies that are not under the management or control of the Board of Governors or the Chancellor’s Office. As such, neither the Board of Governors, the chancellor, nor any of their officers or employees are subject to suit in tort for actions arising on community college campuses and not involving agents of the Chancellor’s Office — See 81 Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 111 (Cal.A.G.) 1998 WL 111135; Bettencourt v. Los Rios Community College Dist. (1986) 42 Cal.3d 270, 276; Peterson v. San Francisco Community College Dist. (1984) 36 Cal.3d 799, 814.

Government claims against individual community college districts must be filed directly with the district using its local claim-filing process.

Service of Process

The Office of General Counsel will accept service of process in litigation filed against the state entities known as the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges and/or the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office and their respective officers and employees when sued in their official capacities.

We are not authorized to accept service of process on behalf of California community college districts, individual community colleges, or their respective officers and employees, nor do we accept service on behalf of individuals sued in their personal capacities.

Claims Against Community College Districts

Community college districts are independent local agencies that are not under the management or control of the Board of Governors or the Chancellor’s Office. As such, neither the Board, the Chancellor, nor any of their officers or employees are subject to suit for actions (or inactions) arising on community college campuses and not involving agents of the Chancellor’s Office.  (See 81 Ops. Cal. Atty. Gen. 111 (Cal.A.G.) 1998 WL 111135; Bank of California v. State of California, 197 Cal. App. 3d 627 (1987).  Bettencourt v. Los Rios Community College Dist. (1986) 42 Cal.3d 270, 276; and Peterson v. San Francisco Community College Dist. (1984) 36 Cal.3d 799, 814.)