Cal. Lab. Code § 211
When action to recover such penalties is brought, no court costs shall be payable by the state or the division. Any sheriff or marshal who serves the summons in the action upon any defendant within his or her jurisdiction shall do so without cost to the division. The sheriff or marshal shall specify in the return what costs he or she would ordinarily have been entitled to for such service, and those costs and the other regular court costs that would have accrued were the action not on behalf of the state shall be made a part of any judgment recovered by the plaintiff and shall be paid out of the first money recovered on the judgment. Several causes of action for the penalties may be united in the same action without being separately stated. A demand is a prerequisite to the bringing of any action under this section or Section 210. The division on behalf of the state may accept and receipt for any penalties so paid, with or without suit.
Ca. Lab. Code § 211