California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 10655

The Employment Development Department shall have primary responsibility for placement and other employment services for public assistance recipients;  provided, however, that a county department may refer a public assistance recipient to a private employment agency at the same time the recipient is referred to the Employment Development Department.  For the purposes of this section, a county department is authorized to enter into contracts with any private employment agencies under such terms and conditions and for such rates as the county department deems reasonable;  provided, that once a public assistance recipient has been placed in employment by such an agency, a county department may not contract again with a private employment agency for placement of that recipient within six months of the original date of placement.

No referral or contract authorized under this section shall result in the recipient's paying any fee, part of wages or other charges to the county department or private employment agency for such services.