(a) All persons other than temporary appointees heretofore serving in the state civil service and engaged in the performance of a function transferred to the department or engaged in the administration of a law, the administration of which is transferred to the department, shall remain in the state civil service and are hereby transferred to the department on the effective date of this section, and their status, positions and rights shall not be affected by their transfer and shall continue to be retained by them pursuant to the State Civil Service Act. The director, pursuant to the State Civil Service Act, shall be the appointing authority for the department for all civil service positions except those civil service positions in the Youth Authority. Positions not heretofore established, which are exclusively for the California Institution for Women or exclusively for the Youth Authority, shall be filled pursuant to the State Civil Service Act.

(b) Notwithstanding Section 18932 of the Government Code, the maximum age shall be 35 years for any open examination for the position of correctional officer, correctional program supervisor, and other custodial positions which normally afford entry into the Department of Corrections service, unless the applicant is already a “state safety” member for the purpose of retirement and disability benefits or was employed in a permanent, temporary, part-time, or intermittent capacity with the department after July 1, 1973, but before January 1, 1974.

(Amended by Stats. 1977, Ch. 165. Superseded on operative date of amendment by Stats. 1981, Ch. 453.)