California Code, Public Resources Code - PRC § 7971

If any land was not the property of the State, at the date application was filed therefor, or if the land applied for was swamp and overflowed land but the application became or was void by reason of the fact that the land had not been segregated, or if subsequent to March 20, 1889, any money has been accepted by the State as a part of or on account of the purchase price of any State land under an application or certificate of purchase which at the time of accepting such money had become invalidated by reason of an act of the Legislature of the State of California entitled “An act respecting the payment in full by holders of certificates of purchase for lands sold by the State of California prior to March 27, 1872, and for which the said State has at any time heretofore issued certificates of purchase to subsequent purchasers,” approved March 20, 1889, the owner of such certificate of purchase or patent may receive in exchange therefor, from the commission, a certificate showing the amount paid and the class of land upon which payment was made by conveying a quitclaim deed to the State, all of his right, title and interest in and to the land.  If the land is lieu land or indemnity land, the commission's certificate shall not issue until the selection therefor is canceled by authority of the Department of the Interior.