California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 7288

Whenever it appears that a person who has been admitted to a state institution and remains under the jurisdiction of the State Department of State Hospitals or the State Department of Developmental Services does not have a guardian or conservator of the estate and owns personal property which requires safekeeping for the benefit of the patient, the State Department of State Hospitals or the State Department of Developmental Services may remove or cause to be removed the personal property from wherever located to a place of safekeeping.

Whenever it appears that the patient does not own property of a value which would warrant guardianship or conservatorship proceedings, the expenses of removal and safekeeping shall be paid from funds appropriated for the support of the institution in which the patient is receiving care and treatment; provided, however, that if the sum on deposit to the credit of the patient in the patients' personal deposit fund exceeds the sum of three hundred dollars ($300), the excess may be applied to the payment of the expenses of removal and safekeeping.

When it is determined by the superintendent, at any time after the removal for safekeeping of the personal property, that the patient is incurable or is likely to remain in a state institution indefinitely, then any of those articles of personal property which cannot be used by the patient at the institution may be sold at public auction and the proceeds therefrom shall first be applied in reimbursement of the expenses so incurred, and the balance shall be deposited to the patient's credit in the patients' personal deposit fund. All moneys so received as reimbursement shall be deposited in the State Treasury in augmentation of the appropriation from which the expenses were paid.