Cal. Health and Safety Code § 1220

Immediately upon the denial of any application for a license or special permit or a renewal thereof, the state department shall notify the applicant in writing. Within 15 days after the state department mails the notice, the applicant may present his written petition for a hearing to the state department. Upon receipt by the state department of the petition in proper form, such petition shall be set for hearing. The proceedings shall be conducted in accordance with Chapter 5 (commencing with Section 11500) of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code, and the state department has all powers granted therein. The director may issue a temporary license to operate a community clinic or free clinic when the director determines that the facility is in compliance with the provisions of this chapter, except that the facility has applied for but not yet been granted an exemption from federal taxation as required by subdivision (a) of Section 1204. In such cases, the prospective licensee shall submit to the director a copy of its application for exemption from federal taxation which it has sent to the federal Internal Revenue Service. The director shall request the Franchise Tax Board to review the application and to render an opinion regarding whether it is likely that the exemption will be granted. If the Franchise Tax Board so determines, the director may proceed to issue a temporary license. Such temporary license shall expire 12 months from the date of its issuance or upon the facility being granted such exemption from federal taxation. The director shall issue no more than three successive temporary licenses to one facility.