Cal. Welf. & Inst. Code § 4659.18

Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in no event shall the department or the regional center recover an amount greater than the child eligible for the California Early Intervention Program or consumer recovers after deducting from the settlement judgment, or award, attorney’s fees and litigation costs paid for by the child or consumer. If the recovery of the department or regional center is determined under this section, the reductions in subdivision (d) of Section 4659.12 shall not apply.