California Code, Financial Code - FIN § 21303

(a) As a condition precedent to the issuance or renewal of a pawnbroker's license the applicant shall file a pawnbroker's two-year nonrevokable surety bond with the issuing authority, in the sum of twenty thousand dollars ($20,000).  The pawnbroker's bond required by this article shall be executed by an admitted surety in favor of the State of California and shall be filed by the applicant with the licensing authority.

(b) The bond shall be for the benefit of pledgors of pledged property when the property is not available for redemption, due to the criminal negligence, criminal malfeasance, or other criminal conduct of the pawnbroker, and the pledgor has complied with the conditions precedent to redemption under the terms of the loan contract.  The pledgor has the burden of establishing by clear and convincing evidence that all conditions precedent to redemption under the terms of the loan contract have been performed.