(a)
The department may permit the Commandant of the Veterans’ Home of California to authorize members of the medical staff and medical technicians, to include X-ray, clinical laboratory, and dental laboratory technicians, of the Veterans’ Home of California to attend medical and scientific meetings and medical and refresher courses, for a period not to exceed 30 days in any one calendar year, in recognized schools or colleges held in California. Any member so attending such schooling shall bear his or her own expenses but there shall be no interruption of normal salary or pay.
(b)
If the provisions of this section are in conflict with the provisions of a memorandum of understanding reached pursuant to Section 3517.5, the memorandum of understanding shall be controlling without further legislative action, except that if such provisions of a memorandum of understanding require the expenditure of funds, the provisions shall not become effective unless approved by the Legislature in the annual Budget Act.