(a) If conciliation is ordered, the department shall, on the day the department determines that conciliation shall be conducted, notify both parties that the conciliation will take place and direct the conciliator agreed to by the parties to commence the conciliation process in accordance with its commercial mediation rules. If the parties have not agreed upon a conciliator, the department shall appoint the conciliation service designated by the department pursuant to Section 54451.5, and direct that conciliation service to commence the conciliation process in accordance with its commercial mediation rules. However, this article prevails if there is any conflict between those rules and this article.

(b) Confidential information disclosed to a conciliator by the parties or by any other person in the course of the conciliation shall not be divulged by the conciliator. All statements, oral or written, records, reports, or other documents received or made by a conciliator while serving in that capacity, or by any other person, shall be confidential. The conciliator shall not be compelled to divulge the information or to testify in regard to the conciliation in any proceeding or judicial forum. The parties shall maintain the confidentiality of the conciliation, and shall not rely on, or introduce as evidence in any proceeding or forum, any of the following:

(1) Views expressed or suggestions made by any party in the course of conciliation proceedings with respect to a possible settlement of the dispute.

(2) Admissions by any party in the course of conciliation proceedings.

(3) Proposals made or views expressed by the conciliator.

(4) The fact that any party in the course of conciliation proceedings had or had not indicated willingness to accept a proposal for settlement made by the conciliator or other party.

(Amended by Stats. 2003, Ch. 145, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 2004.)