California Code, Health and Safety Code - HSC § 11839.18

Any licensee may petition the director for waiver of licensure fees or late payment penalties for the current fiscal year based upon financial hardship. Prior to the granting of relief, the licensee shall demonstrate hardship by production of appropriate financial records. The director may, in his or her discretion, grant all or part of the relief sought, but shall consider the reasonableness of the relief in light of the other expenditures undertaken by the licensee, giving particular scrutiny to the licensee's own profits, earnings, or other compensation, and expenses such as interest, mortgage, or loan payments, as well as noncash expenses such as accruals and depreciation.