California Code, Government Code - GOV § 18993

(a) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, a legislative or nonelected exempt executive branch employee who is appointed to a career executive assignment pursuant to Section 18990 or 18992, shall be eligible to compete in his or her appointing power's promotional examinations for which he or she meets the minimum qualifications of the class to which he or she seeks appointment. When such an employee's career executive assignment is terminated by the appointing power, he or she shall have the right to request a deferred examination for any promotional eligible list that his or her appointing power has in existence at the time of the termination of the career executive assignment and for which he or she meets the minimum qualifications of the class to which he or she seeks appointment.

(b) A request for a deferred examination pursuant to subdivision (a) shall be made no later than 10 days after the effective date of the termination of the career executive assignment. The department shall administer the deferred examination within 30 days of the date of the request.