Cal. VEH § 11203

In lieu of the bond otherwise required by paragraph (3) of subdivision (a) of Section 11202, the applicant may make a deposit pursuant to Article 7 (commencing with Section 995.710) of Chapter 2 of Title 14 of Part 2 of the Code of Civil Procedure. The director may order the deposit returned at the expiration of three years from the date a traffic violator school licensee has ceased to do business, or three years from the date a licensee has ceased to be licensed, if the director is satisfied that there are no outstanding claims against the deposit. A superior court may, upon petition, order the return of the deposit prior to the expiration of three years upon evidence satisfactory to the court that there are no outstanding claims against the deposit. If either the director, department, or state is a defendant in any civil action instituted to recover all or any part of the deposit, or any civil action is instituted by the director, department, or state to determine those entitled to any part of the deposit, the director, department, or state shall be paid reasonable attorney fees and costs from the deposit. Costs shall include those administrative costs incurred in processing claims against the licensee recoverable from the deposit.