Cal. Welf. and Inst. Code § 17402
If there is in the hands of any officer of the county, or there is surrendered to any officer of the county, upon the death of any indigent person, any personal property of a total of less than twenty-five dollars ($25) in value, belonging to such person, the board of supervisors of the county may, by resolution, order such property to be sold, and if the proceeds thereof do not exceed the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25), they shall be applied to the payment of the claim of the county against such person. If the value of such property or the proceeds received from its sale exceeds the sum of twenty-five dollars ($25), or exceeds the indebtedness due to the county, such property or the proceeds of the sale thereof in excess of twenty-five dollars ($25), or the amount of the claims of the county, shall be delivered to the public administrator of the county or to any other legal representative of the deceased for administration.
Ca. Welf. and Inst. Code § 17402