If there are no vacancies in the appropriate journeyman trade-rate class, the employee completing an apprenticeship under Section 19061 shall be afforded the opportunity to elect one of the following:
(a) If the employee’s seniority rating at the time of appointment to the appropriate journeyman trade-rate class is higher than that of any journeyman holding a permanent appointment in the appropriate journeyman trade-rate class, the employee shall be appointed to a permanent position.
(b) If there is a reemployment list for the appropriate journeyman trade-rate class, the employee shall be placed on the reemployment list of that class. The position of the employee on the reemployment list shall be established by provisions of Section 19997.3 at the time of the employee’s appointment to the appropriate journeyman trade-rate class.
(c) Demotion under Section 19997.8.
(Amended by Stats. 1985, Ch. 794, Sec. 20.)