The department may, directly or through agreement or contract with one or more appointing authorities and other public and private organizations, with approval of the board, conduct and evaluate demonstration projects.
Nothing in this section shall infringe upon or conflict with the merit principle as embodied in Article VII of the California Constitution, nor shall any project undertaken pursuant to this act conflict with, or infringe upon the merit principles of the civil service system.
Subject to the provisions of this section, the conducting of demonstration projects shall not be limited by any lack of specific authority under this code to take the action contemplated, or by any
provision of this code or any rule or regulation prescribed under this code which is inconsistent with the action, including any law or regulation relating to any of the following: