On and after July 1, 2011, when a person has been an employee of the State Department of Social Services within the 12-month period prior to his or her employment by a county, the board of supervisors, to the extent feasible, may allow that person to retain, as a county employee, those employee benefits to which that person was entitled or had accumulated as an employee of the State Department of Social Services, or provide that employee with comparable benefits provided for other county employees whose services as county employees is equal to the state service of the former employee of the State Department of Social Services. These benefits include, but are not limited to, retirement benefits, seniority rights under civil service, accumulated vacation, and sick leave.