Ed. Code, § 87481

Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 87478 and 87480, the governing board of a community college district may employ any qualified individual as a temporary faculty member for a complete school year, but not less than one semester or quarter during a school year unless the date of rendering first paid service begins during the second semester or third quarter and prior to March 15th. The employment of these persons shall be based upon the need for additional faculty during a particular semester, quarter, or year because a faculty member has been granted leave for a semester, quarter, or year, or is experiencing long-term illness, and shall be limited, in number of persons so employed, to that need, as determined by the governing board.

Any person employed for one complete school year as a temporary employee shall, if reemployed for the following school year in a vacant faculty position, be classified by the governing board as a contract employee and the previous year’s employment as a temporary employee shall be deemed a year of employment as a contract employee for purposes of acquiring permanent status.

For purposes of this section “vacant position” means a position in which the employee is qualified to serve and which is not filled by a regular or contract employee. It shall not include a position which would be filled by a regular or contract employee except for the fact that such employee is on leave.