Cal. Gov. Code § 19058

When there is no employment list from which a position may be filled, the appointing power, with the consent of the board, may fill the position by temporary appointment. The temporary appointment to a permanent position shall continue only until eligibles are available from an appropriate employment list and shall not exceed the period prescribed by Section 5 of Article VII of the Constitution. Within the limits of the period prescribed therein, any temporary appointment to a limited term position may, in the discretion of the appointing power and with the approval of the board, be continued for the life of such position. When temporary appointments are made to permanent positions, an appropriate employment list shall be established for each class to which a temporary appointment is made before the expiration of the appointment.