The hospital director, subject to rules and regulations adopted by the department, may in addition to establishing a sheltered workshop, provide other vocational rehabilitation programs for state hospital patients. Notwithstanding any payment schedule approved by the department, state hospital patients who participate in a vocational rehabilitation program established under this section are not "employees" within the meaning of Sections 18526 and 18529 of the Government Code and Sections 1182.12, 1191.5, and 2750 of the Labor Code.
Ca. Welf. and Inst. Code § 4317.5