California Code, Government Code - GOV § 16755

(a) The deposit of each unsuccessful bidder shall be returned to the bidder promptly upon the rejection of the bidder's bid or the acceptance of another bid.

(b) The deposit of the successful bidder or underwriter in a negotiated sale shall, immediately upon the acceptance of the bid or proposal, become and be the property of the state, be placed in the State Treasury to the credit of the fund, and be credited to the successful bidder or underwriter upon the purchase price of the bonds when the purchase price is paid in full within the time mutually agreed upon between the successful bidder or underwriter and the Treasurer.

(c) If the purchase price is not paid in accordance with subdivision (b), the successful bidder or underwriter shall have no right in and to the bonds by reason of the bid or purchase contract and the successful bidder or underwriter shall not have any right to the recovery of the deposit accompanying the bid or purchase contract or to any allowance or credit by reason of that deposit unless it shall appear that the bonds cannot be validly issued or delivered, or unless the return of the good faith deposit to the underwriter is provided for in the purchase contract.