(a) A state agency that provides an internship to a person with a developmental disability or appoints a person with a developmental disability to a position under the Limited Examination and Appointment Program may finance the internship or position with personnel or any other funds available for this purpose and assigned to a vacant or unfilled position. A state agency that transfers funds from a vacant or unfilled position pursuant to this section does not eliminate the vacant or unfilled position, and may return or assign funds to fill the position.

(b) (1) A state agency that provides an internship to a person with a developmental disability or appoints a person with a developmental disability to a position under the Limited Examination and Appointment Program shall allow the person to receive on-the-job support, as determined by the Department of Rehabilitation or the State Department of Developmental Services pursuant to existing rules and the service authorization of those supported employment programs, as a reasonable accommodation for the person’s disability.

(2) On-the-job supportive services, in addition to the services set forth in subdivision (q) of Section 4851 of the Welfare and Institutions Code, may consist of, but need not be limited to, time spent with a job coach on any of the following:

(A) Conducting job analysis, specific training, and supervision of the intern while the intern is engaged in his or her internship.

(B) Conducting skills-building training, including, but not limited to, adaptive functional and social skills training and support as necessary to ensure internship adjustment.

(C) Working with families and other support networks to ensure internship adjustment.

(D) Evaluation of performance of the intern, including, but not limited to, communication with the internship supervisor.

(3) The services of the job coach are not the responsibility of the state agency providing the internship, unless the agency is otherwise the direct payor of those services.

(4) In order for the internship to meet the minimum qualifications of the desired position, the internship shall be successfully completed, as set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 19242, in the same job classification as the position the person is applying for.

(5) If a job examination period is required prior to the permanent hiring of a qualified person with a developmental disability, the appointing authority may apply some or all of the internship hours performed to meet some or all of the job examination period requirement.

(6) On-the-job supportive services are allowable to the extent authorized by other state programs and are not the financial or programmatic responsibility of any state agency engaged in establishing the LEAP internship process.

(c) This section shall remain in effect only until January 1, 2021, and as of that date is repealed.

(Added by Stats. 2015, Ch. 356, Sec. 12. (SB 644) Effective January 1, 2016. Repealed as of January 1, 2021, by its own provisions.)