Article 5. Officers And Employees of California Health And Safety Code >> Division 26. >> Part 3. >> Chapter 14. >> Article 5.

(a) The Antelope Valley district board shall employ the necessary staff to carry out its powers and duties.
  (b) The Antelope Valley district board shall appoint an air pollution control officer (APCO) to direct the staff, subject to the direction and policy of the Antelope Valley district board.

On January 1, 2002, the APCO, deputies designated by the APCO, and other exempt employees of the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District shall be employed by the Antelope Valley district and shall serve in the same capacity for the Antelope Valley district. The APCO and deputies designated by the APCO shall serve at the pleasure of the Antelope Valley district board, and shall receive the compensation that is determined by the board.

The Antelope Valley district shall appoint a legal counsel who is admitted to the practice of law in this state.

In the appointment of persons to the Antelope Valley district staff, the Antelope Valley district board shall employ the personnel of the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District. On January 1, 2002, all employees of the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District shall be employed by the Antelope Valley district and shall be entitled to similar positions and duties on the Antelope Valley district staff. Except as otherwise provided in this article, an employee shall have permanent merit system employee status. A period of time as specified by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors shall be allowed to employees of the Antelope Valley County Air Pollution Control District to transfer to other appropriate county employment before July 1, 2002.

All officers and employees of the Antelope Valley district, other than members of the Antelope Valley district board, are entitled to the benefits of the County Employees Retirement Law of 1937 (Chapter 3 (commencing with Section 31450) of Part 3 of Division 4 of Title 3 of the Government Code).

For the purpose of, but not limited to, retirement benefits, salary rates, seniority, and all fringe benefits, all time of employment with the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District immediately prior to employment with the Antelope Valley district, and any time of employment immediately prior thereto with the county, a county district, or both, whose authority, functions, and responsibilities have been assumed by the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District, shall be considered time of employment with the Antelope Valley district. Upon transfer to the Antelope Valley district, employees shall retain all of their accumulated sick leave, vacation, and retirement benefits.

If the civil service commission, or body performing the functions thereof, in the Antelope Valley district finds that any person has been employed by the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District in a position with duties and qualifications that are substantially the same as, or are greater than those of any position in the Antelope Valley district, the civil service commission or other body, at the request of the APCO, may certify, without examination, that person as eligible to hold that Antelope Valley district position.

The Antelope Valley district may contract for any professional assistance that may be necessary or convenient for the exercise of its powers and duties.