If the civil service commission, or body performing the functions thereof, in the Antelope Valley district finds that any person has been employed by the Antelope Valley Air Pollution Control District in a position with duties and qualifications that are substantially the same as, or are greater than those of any position in the Antelope Valley 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 Antelope Valley district position.