2005 California Corporations Code Sections 15800 CHAPTER 4. PROCESS AGENTS FOR CERTAIN FOREIGN CORPORATIONS

15800.  (a) Every partnership, other than a foreign limited
partnership subject to Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 15611) or a
commercial or banking partnership established and transacting
business in a place without the United States, that is domiciled
without this state and has no regular place of business within this
state, shall, within 40 days from the time it commences to do
business in this state, file a statement in the office of the
Secretary of State in accordance with Section 16309 designating some
natural person or corporation as the agent of the partnership upon
whom process issued by authority of or under any law of this state
directed against the partnership may be served.  A copy of the
designation, duly certified by the Secretary of State, is sufficient
evidence of the appointment.
   (b) The process may be served in the manner provided in
subdivision (b) of Section 16310 on the person so designated, or, in
the event that no person has been designated, or if the agent
designated for the service of process is a natural person and cannot
be found with due diligence at the address stated in the designation,
or if the agent is a corporation and no person can be found with due
diligence to whom the delivery authorized by subdivision (b) of
Section 16310 may be made for the purpose of delivery to the
corporate agent, or if the agent designated is no longer authorized
to act, then service may be made by personal delivery to the
Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State, or a Deputy
Secretary of State of the process, together with a written statement
signed by the party to the action seeking the service, or by the
party's attorney, setting forth the last known address of the
partnership and a service fee as set forth in Section 12197 of the
Government Code.  The Secretary of State shall immediately give
notice of the service to the partnership by forwarding the process to
it by registered mail, return receipt requested, at the address
given in the written statement.
   (c) Service on the person designated, or personal delivery of the
process and statement of address together with a service fee as set
forth in Section 12197 of the Government Code to the Secretary of
State, Assistant Secretary of State, or a Deputy Secretary of State,
pursuant to this section is a valid service on the partnership.  The
partnership so served shall appear within 30 days after service on
the person designated or within 30 days after delivery of the process
to the Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of State, or a Deputy
Secretary of State.