CHAPTER
2.7. Career Development Apprenticeship Program
19991.20.
(a) The Department of Human Resources, consistent with board rules, notwithstanding any other law, including Chapter 4 (commencing with Section 3070) of Division 3 of the Labor Code, shall administer and oversee the Career Development Apprenticeship Program. The program shall provide an alternative to the traditional civil service examination and appointment process to help the state address persistently high vacancy rates in certain designated classifications and to facilitate broader access to civil service careers by eliminating barriers to employment. Individuals hired by this process shall be known as career development apprentices.(b) For purposes of this chapter, “career development apprentice” means an interested career development
apprenticeship program applicant who meets standardized, job-related criteria, as defined by department rule, who participates in a competitive selection process for admittance to the program, but does not meet the minimum qualifications in the classification specification for permanent list appointment to the classification.
(c) The department, in its sole discretion, shall determine which classifications are eligible for recruitment under the Career Development Apprenticeship Program.
19991.21.
The department, consistent with board rules, shall implement this chapter, which may include the establishment of eligibility criteria for participation, special job classifications or position tenure and status designations, alternative examination and appointment types, and appeal procedures.19991.22.
The department or its designee shall conduct competitive examinations in the form of career development apprenticeship cohorts to determine the qualifications and readiness of career development apprentices for permanent state employment. For purposes of career development apprenticeship cohorts, the examination may consist of an on-the-job performance evaluation, academic evaluation, including the requirement to achieve passing grades, or any other job-related selection techniques deemed appropriate.19991.23.
An initial appointment to an eligible classification for the purpose of allowing an applicant to compete in the career development apprenticeship cohort shall be known as an apprenticeship appointment.19991.24.
The department shall refer the names of persons who meet eligibility criteria for participation in the career development apprenticeship cohort to appointing powers for selection and apprenticeship appointment. Notwithstanding any other law, all candidates meeting referral requirements shall be eligible for initial apprenticeship appointment. To provide for appropriate job placement, the department may prescribe methods for referring names to appointing powers.19991.25.
(a) All apprenticeship appointments to positions under this chapter shall be made on a temporary and provisional basis to allow candidates to demonstrate their ability to perform the duties of the position and to gain knowledge and skills necessary to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification when provided access to relevant hands-on and academic instruction. The term of the apprenticeship appointment shall be known as the cohort evaluation period.(b) The department shall determine the duration of the cohort evaluation period, not to exceed two years, unless an extension is otherwise authorized by board rule.
(c) Termination of the apprenticeship appointment by the
employee, appointing authority, or the department at any point during the cohort evaluation period shall occur in accordance with board rule.
19991.26.
(a) Candidates serving in an apprenticeship appointment shall not acquire permanent civil service status for the duration of the cohort evaluation period but shall receive the same benefits other state employees in a temporary appointment are entitled.(b) During the cohort evaluation period of the apprenticeship appointment, the career development apprentice shall not claim any portion of the on-the-job experience gained during program participation toward meeting minimum qualifications for permanent or limited-term appointment to the apprenticeship appointment classification or any other civil service classification.
(c) Only upon the satisfactory completion of the cohort
evaluation period of an apprenticeship appointment shall the career development apprentice retroactively accrue the status of an apprenticeship appointment, including experience, earned during the cohort evaluation period for application toward meeting minimum qualifications for civil service positions.
19991.27.
(a) The department or its designee shall develop job-related evaluation standards that are appropriate tests of fitness for the job classification. During the cohort evaluation period, the appointing power shall prepare periodic written evaluations of the candidate’s performance and academic achievements based on the job-related evaluation standards, subject to board rule.(b) The department or its designee shall provide a final evaluation to each apprentice at the end of a cohort evaluation period. This evaluation shall contain both of the following:
(1) A determination as to whether or not the apprentice meets the minimum qualifications.
(2) A certification as to whether or not the apprentice successfully passed the cohort evaluation period and should be transitioned to a permanent civil service appointment.
(c) Upon successful completion of the cohort evaluation period with a passing evaluation, the apprentice shall be deemed to meet the minimum qualifications of the classification and have qualified in the examination, and the appointing power shall automatically transition the apprentice from a temporary apprenticeship appointment to a permanent appointment, without further examination, wherein the employee will serve a probationary period.
19991.28.
Applicants for the program and career development apprentices in the career development apprenticeship program cohort evaluation period may appeal, in accordance with board rule, any of the following actions:(a) A refusal to certify eligibility to participate in the program.
(b) A disqualification by an interview panel or by any other selection method used.
(c) A termination of an appointment of a candidate during the cohort evaluation period for job performance, conduct, or academics.