(a) Except as provided in subdivision (c), if any amount is due and payable and unpaid as a result of an overpayment to a vendor or local agency established under this article that is identified through an audit or examination conducted by or on behalf of the director and the department has issued an audit or examination finding, or an administrative decision resulting from an administrative appeal of the audit or examination finding that has become final, the director may file in the office of the County Clerk of Sacramento County and with the county clerk of the county in which the vendor has his or her principal place of business, a certificate containing the following:

1. (1) The amount due and owing and unpaid plus the applicable interest at a rate equal to the monthly average of the rate received on investments in the Pooled Money Investment Fund commencing on the date that an audit or examination finding, made pursuant to Section 316.5 is mailed to the vendor or local agency.
2. (2) A statement that the director has complied with this article prior to the filing of the certificate.

3. (3) A request that judgment be entered against the vendor or local agency in the amount set forth in the certificate.

   The county clerk immediately upon the filing of the certificate, shall enter a judgment for the State of California against the vendor or local agency in the amount set forth in the certificate.

   Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the Special Supplemental Food Program for Women, Infants, and Children shall pay the normal fee charged by the county for the certificate of judgment.

   Nothing in this subdivision shall prevent the director from using any other means available in law to recover amounts due and owing and unpaid from the vendor or local agency.

(b) The dates when the department may file the certificate and seek judgment from the county clerk, as provided in subdivision (a), depends on whether the audit finding is appealed by the vendor or local agency.

1. (1) If the audit finding or lower level administrative decision is not appealed, the department may file the certificate the day after the end of the appeal period or anytime thereafter, but not later than three years after the payment became due and owing.
2. (2) If the audit finding or lower level administrative decision is appealed to the director, the department may file the certificate no earlier than 90 days after the issuance of the final decision by the director, but no later than three years after the issuance of the final decision.

(c) If the vendor seeks judicial review of the final decision of the director pursuant to Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure, and notice of the action is properly served on the director within 90 days of the issuance of the final decision, the department shall not file any certificate as provided in subdivision (a).

If the vendor does not seek judicial review of the final decision of the director or does not properly serve notice within 90 days from the date of the final decision of the director, the department may file the certificate and obtain judgment pursuant to subdivision (a).