(a)  Nonacademic positions created by a governing board of a school district under the Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962, the Economic Opportunity Act of 1964, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, or Section 11300 or Section 13650 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, any future federal or state legislative enactment, or any other special funding, and which are not a part of the regular school program shall, nevertheless, be a part of the classified service as established by Section 88003 or Section 88076 of this code.

Persons employed in such positions shall be classified employees and shall enjoy all the rights, burdens and benefits accorded other classified employees. Their selection and retention shall be made on the same basis as that of persons selected for positions that are a part of the regular school program.

(b) Notwithstanding the provisions of subdivision (a), if specially funded positions are restricted to employment of persons in low-income groups, from designated impoverished areas and other criteria which restricts the privilege of all citizens to compete for employment in such positions, all such positions shall, in addition to the regular class title, be classified as “restricted.” Their selection and retention shall be made on the same basis as that of persons selected and retained in positions that are a part of the regular school program, except that persons employed in the following categories of restricted positions shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 88091 or 88092:

(1) The position of instructional aide, as defined in Section 88243.

(2) Any other position involving personal contacts with students or parents that is established to assist school-staff personnel responsible for school-community relations; educational support services for such areas as counseling, library or health; or the correction or prevention of behavioral problems.

Persons employed in positions properly classified as “restricted” shall be classified employees for all purposes except:

(A) They shall not be accorded employment permanency under Section 88013 or Section 88120 of the Education Code, whichever is applicable.

(B) They shall not acquire seniority credits for the purposes of Sections 88117 and 88127 of the Education Code or, in a district not having the merit (civil service) system, for the purposes of layoff for lack of work or lack of funds as may be established by rule of the governing board.

(C) The provisions of Sections 88106 and 88108 shall not apply to “restricted” employees.

(D) They shall not be eligible for promotion into the regular classified service or, in districts that have adopted the merit system, shall not be subject to the provisions of Section 88061, until they have complied with the provisions of subdivision (c).

(c) At any time, after completion of six months of satisfactory service, a person serving in a “restricted” position shall be given the opportunity to take such qualifying examinations as are required for all other persons serving in the same class in the regular classified service. If the person satisfactorily completes the qualifying examination, regardless of final numerical listing on an eligibility list, he or she shall be accorded full rights, benefits and burdens of any other classified employee serving in the regular classified service. His or her service in the regular classified service shall be counted from the original date of employment in the “restricted” position and shall continue even though he or she continues to serve in a “restricted” position.

(d) This section shall apply to districts that have adopted the merit system in the same manner and effect as if it were a part of Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of this chapter.

(e) It is the intent of the Legislature in enacting this section to clearly set forth that positions normally a part of the classified service are included therein regardless of the source of income to sustain the positions and to effectively implement specially funded programs intended to provide job opportunities for untrained and impoverished persons but to do so in a manner that will not be disruptive nor detrimental to the normal employment procedures relating to classified school service.

(Amended by Stats. 1990, Ch. 1302, Sec. 180. Effective September 25, 1990.)