Cal. Gov. Code § 19889.2
The provisions of this part governing the examination, selection, classification, and tenure of employees in the regular civil service shall not apply to "career executive assignments" unless provided for by State Personnel Board rule. The provisions of this part relating to punitive actions shall apply to all employees serving in career executive assignments, except that termination of a career executive assignment as provided for in Section 19889.3 is not a punitive action. State Personnel Board rules shall, at a minimum, afford all employees whose career executive assignments are terminated by the appointing power a right of appeal to the State Personnel Board for restoration of his or her assignment when he or she alleges that the termination was for reasons prohibited in Chapter 10 (commencing with Section 19680) of Part 2.
Ca. Gov. Code § 19889.2