Opinion ID: 2634751
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Unit 11 (Engineering and Scientific Technicians)

Text: Effective July 1, 1999, the Department of Personnel Administration and the California State Employees Association (CSEA), as bargaining agent, entered into an MOU governing employees in Unit 11 (Unit 11 MOU), consisting of engineering and scientific technicians. Relevant here are the MOU provisions pertaining to mandatory substance abuse testing for those employees operating commercial vehicles. Employees disciplined or dismissed after receiving a positive test result during probation may challenge the action through a grievance and arbitration process, or if they choose, may seek review before the State Personnel Board. To implement the Unit 11 MOU, the Legislature in 1999 added subdivision (d) to section 18670. (Stats.1999, ch. 630, § 2.) Then in 2000 the Legislature amended section 18670 by adding another new subdivision (d) (Stats.2000, ch. 402, § 5.) In relevant part, this new subdivision (d) states that covered employees who have been disciplined for positive drug test results and who have elected to challenge the discipline through the grievance and arbitration procedure are not subject to either a[n] ... investigation or a hearing by the State Personnel Board. (See also § 19175, subds. (f) & (g); Code Civ. Proc. § 1094.5, subd. (k).)