If the civil service commission, or body performing the functions thereof, in the Mojave Desert district finds that any person has been employed by the San Bernardino County Air Pollution Control District, in a position with duties and qualifications which are substantially the same as, or are greater than those of any position in the Mojave Desert district, the civil service commission or other body, at the request of the APCO, may certify, without examination, that person as eligible to hold that Mojave Desert district position.