Monical

Plaintiff County of Santa Barbara filed a complaint against defendant Marietta Mae Monical seeking reimbursement of $6,372.95, the value of hospital care and services rendered to defendant’s deceased mother. The complaint alleged that defendant is liable to plaintiff pursuant to section 17300 of the Welfare and Institutions Code.

That section provides: “All aid rendered by the county under this part shall be a charge against the spouse, parent, and adult child of the recipient thereof, and the county rendering aid shall be entitled to reimbursement *251 therefor. The board of supervisors of the county rendering aid shall determine if the spouse, parent, or adult child, or any of them, have financial ability to support or contribute to the support of the recipient and were pecuniarily able to support or contribute to the support of the recipient during the time aid was rendered. If in the opinion of the board of supervisors pecuniary ability existed when the aid was given, and exists when the matter comes before the board of supervisors, the board shall request the district attorney or other civil legal officer of the county granting aid to proceed against such…