I'm not positive on this, but I believe Cali has banned the SKS on the state level as an assault rifle, and as such there is no way to legally transfer them.
Sorry, pet peeve of mine. If you don't live here and you are not sure, why even mention it? I respect your wanting to help, but there are way too many people not in California who have no idea what California is like and they have to pipe in their 2 cents and they are usually wrong. Your post doesn't bug me much, it just brings back bad memories.
There are quite a few dealers who are selling the modified Yugo SKS and you should be able to get one for less than $200. You are supposed to go through a FFL dealer as private party transfers of the SKS are not going to be legal. (someone has told me that you can still do private party transfers on C&R guns over 50 years old and I have been meaning to ask about that, I don't believe it. As far as I know the Yugo SKS is not 50 years old)
I bought my Russian SKS 10 years ago in a straw purchase through my dad (I know kettle, black, legality) when I was 17. I had an extra but I sold it. See if you can find a good dealer and have him order you one. It shouldn't cost you more than $200. Good luck.
Interordnance says they have them as low as $88.95 plus a $20 PRK alteration charge. Once you get it shipped in and transfered to your FFL, you are going to be looking at probably $150 to $200.
SOG has some that don't have a grenade launcher on them, but they say "not for sale in california". Another pet peave. People not wanting to do legitimate business with us because they aren't capable enough to read the laws. I guess I don't blame them, but I also don't shop with them either.