California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 7277

The State Department of State Hospitals shall collect all the costs and charges mentioned in Section 7275, and shall determine, pursuant to Section 7275, and collect the charges for care and treatment rendered persons in community mental health clinics maintained by the department and may take action necessary to effect their collection within or without the state.  The Director of State Hospitals may, however, at his or her discretion, refuse to accept payment of charges for the care and treatment in a state hospital of person with a mental health disorder or who has chronic alcoholism and who is eligible for deportation by the federal immigration authorities.