What is the test for making a statutory claim of statutory ambiguity?

An ambiguity arises when language may be applied in more than one way. To say that language is ambiguous is to say there is more than one semantically permissible candidate for application, though it cannot be determined from the language which is meant. Every substantial claim of ambiguity must tender a candidate reading of the language which is of aid to the claimant. One must ask what meanings are proffered and examine their plausibility in light of the language. A party attacking a meaning succeeds only if the attacker can propose an alternative, plausible, candidate of meaning. (See, e.g., City of Sacramento v. Public Employees' Retirement System (1994) 22 Cal.App.4th 786, 793-795, 27 Cal.Rptr.2d 545 [discussing claim of statutory ambiguity].)