Cal. Welfare and Institutions Code § 9711

(a) The office shall be under the direction of a chief executive officer who shall be known as the State Long-Term Care Ombudsman. The State Ombudsman shall be appointed by the director and shall report directly to the director. He or she shall devote his or her entire time to the duties of his or her position, and shall receive the salary otherwise provided by law. (b) Any vacancy occurring in the position of State Ombudsman shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment. Whenever the State Ombudsman dies, resigns, becomes ineligible to serve for any reason, or is removed from office, the director shall appoint an acting State Ombudsman within 30 days, who shall serve until the appointment and qualification of the State Ombudsman’s successor, but in no event longer than four months from the occurrence of the vacancy. The acting State Ombudsman shall exercise during this period all the powers and duties of the State Ombudsman pursuant to this chapter.