2010 California Code
Welfare and Institutions Code
Chapter 4. Relatives' Responsibility

17300.  All aid rendered by the county under this part shall be a
charge against the responsible relative or relatives of the recipient
thereof, and the county rendering aid shall be entitled to
reimbursement therefor.
   The board of supervisors of the county rendering aid shall
determine if the responsible relative or relatives have financial
ability to support or contribute to the support of the recipient and
were pecuniarily able to support or contribute to the support of the
recipient during the time aid was rendered. If in the opinion of the
board of supervisors pecuniary ability existed when the aid was
given, and exists when the matter comes before the board of
supervisors, the board shall request the district attorney or other
civil legal officer of the county granting aid to proceed against
such responsible relative or relatives.
   Upon such request, the district attorney or other civil legal
officer shall maintain an action on behalf of the county granting aid
against the relative or relatives to recover for the county the aid
rendered and to secure an order requiring the payment of any sums
which may become due in the future.
   The board of supervisors shall, in the case of aid granted by
institutional care, fix a reasonable charge therefor, which shall be
the measure of reimbursement to the county, and the existence of the
order fixing the charge shall constitute prima facie evidence of its
reasonableness.
   For the purposes of this article, property described in
subdivisions (g) and (h) of Section 17409 shall not be considered in
determining the financial ability of a responsible relative to
support or contribute to the support of the recipient.
   For the purposes of this chapter responsible relative or relatives
mean the spouse of a recipient and parent of a minor child who is a
recipient.



17301.  In any case where a person so ordered to make such payments
fails so to do, the court may by order require him to show cause for
such failure, and may otherwise enforce the order to make such
payments by such order or orders as in its discretion it deems
necessary from time to time, and such order or orders may be
modified, altered, or revoked at the discretion of the court.