California Code, Welfare and Institutions Code - WIC § 11324.4

(a) The employer or sponsor of an employment or training program position described in Section 11322.6 or 11322.9 or any positions created under any county pilot project shall assist and encourage qualified participants to compete for job openings occurring within the sponsor's organization for which they qualify.

(b) Workers assigned to public agencies shall be allowed to participate in classified service examinations equivalent to the positions they occupy, as well as all open and promotional examinations for which experience in the position or other relevant experience is qualifying under merit system rules. To the extent permitted under federal or state law, local ordinance, or applicable collective bargaining agreements, time worked in the positions shall apply toward seniority in the merit public agency positions.