Cal. Ins. Code § 12977
The commissioner may authorize the refund of money received or collected by the department in payment for the filing of applications for licenses, permits or certificates, or for the rendering of other services:
(d) The penalty fee required by subdivision (b) of Section 1718 upon a written showing, filed within sixty (60) days after the delinquency date, with particularity as to facts that late payment resulted from mistake, inadvertence or excusable neglect.
This section does not exclude the making of refunds under other appropriate provisions of law requiring the approval of the Director of General Services before such refunds may be made.