No community college district may adopt or maintain any rule or regulation which requires a candidate for a position in the classified service to be a resident of the district or to become a resident of the district, or which requires that an employee maintain residency within the district; nor may a district grant preferential points or other preferential treatment to those candidates or employees who are residents of the district. This section shall not apply to restricted positions as provided for in Sections 88005 and 88008.
The Legislature in enacting this section recognizes that the public school system of this state is the property of all its citizens, and that all qualified candidates for positions in the classified service, regardless of residence, should be granted the opportunity to compete for and obtain such positions based solely on merit and fitness.
This section shall apply to districts that have adopted the merit system in the same manner and effect as if it were a part of Article 3 (commencing with Section 88060) of this chapter.