§76-8 Public employment program personnel. Employees in the public employment program which is funded in part or wholly under the Emergency Employment Act of 1971, P.L. 92-54, and in the public service career program plan "A", which is funded in part or wholly under the Federal Manpower Development and Training Act of 1962, as amended, who are employed by the state or county governments and who are not in the civil service systems of their respective jurisdictions may be granted by the chief executive of the jurisdiction concerned permanent appointment status in the appropriate civil service system as provided in this chapter. Permanent appointment status may be granted by the chief executive of the jurisdiction concerned provided that funds shall have been appropriated for the positions affected and these employees shall not be required to qualify in civil service examinations and shall be entitled to all of the rights, benefits and privileges (including credit for service in the positions occupied, vacation and sick leave credits) earned or accrued up to the date this Act takes effect, and provided further the creditable service in computing retention rights shall commence at the point of conversion to civil service status. The employees affected shall continue to receive the same rates of pay as a consequence of this Act, provided that there is no conflict with existing personnel laws, rules and regulations. [L 1973, c 160, §1; am L 1974, c 140, §1]