State employees in state bargaining units 1, 4, 15, 18, and 20 who suffer a job-related injury or illness and become eligible for vocational rehabilitation under § 139.5 of the Labor Code on or after January 1, 1993, shall first be subject to an evaluation to determine what type of state employment can be performed. The evaluation shall include vocational rehabilitation when deemed appropriate, based on a medical evaluation and previous experience. Disability benefits shall be contingent on the employee’s agreement to cooperate and participate in a reasonable and appropriate vocational rehabilitation plan necessary to continue state employment. This section shall not apply to any job-related or job-incurred injury or illness that occurs on or after January 1, 2000.

(Amended by Stats. 2000, Ch. 402, Sec. 10. Effective September 11, 2000. Applicable from January 1, 2000, by Sec. 22 of Ch. 402.)