Welf. & Inst. Code, § 4551

(a) Within the limit of funds allotted for these purposes, the state council shall appoint an executive director. All state council employees that the state council may require shall be appointed by the executive director.

(b) The executive director of the state council shall be exempt from civil service. All state council staff positions exempt from civil service on December 31, 2014, shall remain exempt on January 1, 2015, and thereafter, until the position becomes vacant or is transitioned to a civil service position.

(c) Each person who is a member of the state council staff, is exempt from civil service, and is employed by the state council on December 31, 2014, shall continue to be employed in a job classification at the same or higher salary by the state council on January 1, 2015, and thereafter, unless he or she resigns or is terminated from employment.

(d) The state council may transition staff positions that were exempt from civil service on December 31, 2014, to civil service positions. Civil service positions shall be established for any positions that are transitioned pursuant to this subdivision.

(e) Notwithstanding any other law, a person who was a state council employee exempt from civil service on December 31, 2014, shall be eligible to apply for civil service examinations, including promotional civil service examinations described in Section 18992 of the Government Code. A person receiving a passing score shall have his or her name placed on lists resulting from these examinations, or otherwise gain eligibility for appointment. In evaluating minimum qualifications, experience in state council exempt positions shall be considered state civil service experience in a class deemed comparable by the State Personnel Board, based on the duties and responsibilities assigned.