Whenever, by reason of any reorganization, other than the unification of districts, all or part of the territory of any school district which has adopted the merit system is included within any district, or in any new district, the governing board of the acquiring or new district shall adopt such merit system if a simple majority of the classified employees of the reorganized district voting on the adoption of a merit system approve its adoption pursuant to Section 45221. If no such election is requested by the classified employees of the reorganized district pursuant to Section 45221, adoption of a merit system shall be effective only if the number of classified employees from the merit system district who are to become employees of the acquiring district equals or exceeds the number of classified employees of the acquiring nonmerit system district. In the event that any district simultaneously acquires all or part of the territory of two or more districts which have previously adopted the merit system, the governing board of the acquiring or new district shall adopt a merit system containing such provisions as are necessary to afford to all employees the rights guaranteed by this section if a simple majority of the classified employees of the reorganized district voting on the adoption of a merit system approve its adoption pursuant to Section 45221. If no such election is requested by the classified employees of the reorganized district pursuant to Section 45221, adoption of a merit system shall be effective only if the number of classified employees from the merit system district who are to become employees of the acquiring district equals or exceeds the number of classified employees of the acquiring nonmerit system district. The employees of the reorganized or new district shall retain all rights and privileges as if they had been employed under the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of this chapter, with seniority commencing as of the date of original employment in their original district. Where there are more than a sufficient number of employees for a given classification under the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of this chapter, such personnel shall be retained in employment for a period of not less than two years as if the reorganization had not occurred but without prejudice to the powers of the personnel commission and governing board of the reorganized district to reasonably reassign such persons. If at the expiration of such period, upon a finding made by the personnel commission that there are excess personnel in any given classification, such personnel shall, if the governing board so directs, be placed upon appropriate reemployment lists for 39 months and, if so placed, shall be offered and may accept positions of lower rank in their line of promotion in the order of seniority as established by this section in accordance with rules drawn in compliance with the provisions of Article 6 (commencing with Section 45240) of the chapter. The acceptance of a position in lower rank in accordance herewith shall not be deemed to constitute a waiver of the right to reemployment at the original level should a vacancy at such level occur within the period mentioned in this section.

(Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 149.)