Cal. Education Code § 56177

(a) Notwithstanding the notice requirement in subclause (I) of clause (iii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Section 1412 of Title 20 of the United States Code, the cost of reimbursement shall not be reduced or denied, in accordance with clause (iv) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Section 1412 of Title 20 of the United States Code, for failure to provide the notice in the event of any of the following: (1) The school prevented the parent or guardian from providing the notice. (2) The parents had not received notice, pursuant to Section 1415 of Title 20 of the United States Code, of the notice requirement in subclause (I) of clause (iii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Section 1412 of Title 20 of the United States Code. (3) Compliance with the federal provision cited in paragraph (2) would likely result in physical harm to the child. (b) In the discretion of a court or a hearing officer, the cost of reimbursement may not be reduced or denied for failure to provide the notice in either of the following circumstances: (1) The parent or guardian is illiterate or cannot write in English. (2) Providing the notice described in subclause (I) of clause (iii) of subparagraph (C) of paragraph (10) of subsection (a) of Section 1412 of Title 20 of the United States Code would likely result in serious emotional harm to the child.