Gov. Code, § 17051

Whenever any warrant is drawn in favor of a payee having a claim against the State and is delivered to a State agency for delivery to a payee, and prior to delivery to the payee any facts or circumstances exist which would affect the validity or alter the amount of the claim, the person authorized to make payments out of any funds under the direct control of the State agency may indorse and deposit the warrant in the treasury to the credit of the fund or appropriation upon which it was drawn or deposit it to the credit of the appropriate account under his control. Where such a warrant is deposited to the account under the control of the State agency, it shall, when necessary, pay the portion of the claim then due and payable and return the balance to the treasury to the credit of the fund or appropriation upon which the warrant was drawn.