California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 17300

All aid rendered by the county under this part shall be a charge against the responsible relative or relatives of the recipient thereof, and the county rendering aid shall be entitled to reimbursement therefor.

The board of supervisors of the county rendering aid shall determine if the responsible relative or relatives have financial ability to support or contribute to the support of the recipient and were pecuniarily able to support or contribute to the support of the recipient during the time aid was rendered.  If in the opinion of the board of supervisors pecuniary ability existed when the aid was given, and exists when the matter comes before the board of supervisors, the board shall request the district attorney or other civil legal officer of the county granting aid to proceed against such responsible relative or relatives.

Upon such request, the district attorney or other civil legal officer shall maintain an action on behalf of the county granting aid against the relative or relatives to recover for the county the aid rendered and to secure an order requiring the payment of any sums which may become due in the future.

The board of supervisors shall, in the case of aid granted by institutional care, fix a reasonable charge therefor, which shall be the measure of reimbursement to the county, and the existence of the order fixing the charge shall constitute prima facie evidence of its reasonableness.

For the purposes of this article, property described in subdivisions (g) and (h) of Section 17409 shall not be considered in determining the financial ability of a responsible relative to support or contribute to the support of the recipient.

For the purposes of this chapter responsible relative or relatives mean the spouse of a recipient and parent of a minor child who is a recipient.