(a) If any provision of this article or the application thereof to any person or circumstance is held invalid, such invalidity shall not affect other provisions or applications of the article which can be given effect without the invalid provision or application, and to this end the provisions of this article are severable.

(b) In a criminal action, a seller of travel has the burden of producing evidence to establish any exception to the provisions of this chapter; and in a civil action, a seller of travel has the burden of proof to establish any exception to the provisions of this chapter.

(c) Any action or proceeding to attack, review, set aside, void, change, or annul any decision, determination, or finding of the Attorney General or his or her delegate pursuant to Article 2.6 (commencing with Section 17550) or Article 2.7 (commencing with Section 17550.35) shall be in accordance with the provisions of Section 1094.5 of the Code of Civil Procedure.

In such action or proceeding, the inquiry shall extend only to whether there was a prejudicial abuse of discretion. Abuse of discretion shall be found by the court only if the decision, determination, or finding was not supported by substantial evidence in light of the entire written record before the Attorney General or his or her delegate at the time the decision, determination, or finding was made. The record before the court shall be the same written record upon which the Attorney General or his or her delegate acted.

(Added by Stats. 1994, Ch. 1123, Sec. 2. Effective January 1, 1995. Section operative January 1, 1995, pursuant to Section 17550.33 (later repealed).)