(a) Whenever any fee or penalty subject to refund under Section 42231 after application therefor has not been paid into the State Treasury, the department shall refund the fee or penalty.
(b) Whenever any fee or penalty subject to refund under Section 42231 after application therefor or Section 10901 of the Revenue and Taxation Code has been paid into the State Treasury to the credit, in whole or in part, of the Motor Vehicle License Fee Account in the Transportation Tax Fund (hereafter referred to in this section as the Motor Vehicle License Fee Account), or to the credit, in whole or in part, of the Motor Vehicle Account in the State Transportation Fund (hereafter referred to in this section as the Motor Vehicle Account), the department shall prepare a claim setting forth the facts pertaining to the fee or penalty sought to be refunded, and the State Controller shall draw his warrant upon the account or accounts to which the fee or penalty was credited. In lieu of filing claims for refund against both the Motor Vehicle Account and the Motor Vehicle License Fee Account when an amount has been determined to be due from both accounts, the director may file a single claim with the State Controller, drawn against the Motor Vehicle Account covering the amount of both refunds, and the State Controller shall thereupon draw his warrant on the Motor Vehicle Account. At least quarterly, the director shall certify to the State Controller the amounts paid from the Motor Vehicle Account which are properly chargeable to the Motor Vehicle License Fee Account supported by such detail as the State Controller may require. Upon order of the State Controller, the amounts so required shall be transferred from the Motor Vehicle License Fee Account to the credit of the Motor Vehicle Account.
(c) This section is an appropriation of any and all amounts necessary to refund and repay any excessive or erroneous fees and penalties collected under this code, and the procedure prescribed in this article for refunds shall be deemed a compliance with the requirements of the Government Code relating to the refund of excessive or erroneous fees or penalties.
(Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 669.)