(a) The trustees shall grant a leave of absence without pay for the purposes of the pregnancy, childbirth or the recovery therefrom of a female employee, for a period as determined by the employee not exceeding one year to any permanent employee under the jurisdiction of the trustees. When the employee has notified the trustees as to the period of the leave of absence required, any change in the length of the period of leave shall not be effective unless approved by the trustees.

(b) If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Chapter 12 (commencing with Section 3560) of Division 4 of Title 1 of the Government Code, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if such provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.

(Amended by Stats. 1979, Ch. 1072.)