Cal. Educ. Code § 49110

(a) It is the intent of the Legislature that school district, charter school, and private school personnel responsible for issuing work permits to pupils have a working knowledge of California labor laws as they relate to minors and be trained to provide pupils with practical personal guidance in career education.
(b) Any of the following individuals may issue a work permit to a minor subject to the requirements and conditions of this chapter:
1. (1) The superintendent of a school district in which the minor resides.
2. (2) The chief executive officer, or the equivalent position, of a charter school that the minor attends.
3. (3) A person holding a services credential with a specialization in pupil personnel services authorized by the superintendent of the school district or chief executive officer in writing, or a certificated work experience education teacher or coordinator authorized by the superintendent of the school district or chief executive officer in writing.
4. (4) If the minor resides in a portion of a county not under the jurisdiction of the superintendent of a school district and does not attend a charter school, the county superintendent of schools, a person holding a services credential with a specialization in pupil personnel services authorized by the county superintendent of schools in writing, or a certificated work experience education teacher or coordinator authorized by the county superintendent of schools in writing may issue a work permit.
5. (5) Subject to the requirements and conditions in subparagraphs (A) to (C), inclusive, the principal of a public or private school may issue, or designate another administrator in the school to issue, work permits to pupils who attend the school. If the principal of a public or private school chooses not to issue work permits pursuant to this paragraph, work permits may be issued to pupils attending that school pursuant to paragraph (1), (3), or (4) or Section 49110.1.
  1. (A) A principal who issues a work permit pursuant to this paragraph shall provide a self-certification that he or she understands the requirements in existing law for issuing a work permit. The principal shall submit a copy of each work permit he or she issues along with a copy of the application for each work permit to the superintendent of the school district in which the school is located.
  2. (B) The superintendent of a school district may revoke a work permit issued by the principal of a public or private school located within the district if the superintendent becomes aware of any grounds upon which the pupil may be deemed ineligible for a work permit under existing law.
  3. (C) An individual with authority to issue a work permit pursuant to this subdivision shall not issue a work permit to his or her own child.
(c) A work permit shall not be issued until the written request for the permit from the parent, guardian, foster parent, caregiver with whom the minor resides, or residential shelter services provider, has been filed with the issuing authority. “Residential shelter services” refers to residential and other support services provided to minors by a governmental agency, a person or agency under contract with a governmental agency to provide these services, an agency receiving funding from community funds, or a licensed community care facility or crisis resolution center on a temporary or emergency basis in a facility that services only minors.
(d) If the certificated person designated to issue work permits by the superintendent of a school district or the chief executive officer, or the equivalent position, of a charter school is not available, and delay in issuing a permit would jeopardize the ability of a pupil to secure work, another person authorized by the superintendent of the school district or the chief executive officer, or the equivalent position, of a charter school may issue the work permit.
(e) If a school district or charter school does not employ or contract with a person holding a services credential with a specialization in pupil personnel services or with a certificated work experience education teacher or coordinator, the superintendent of the school district or the chief executive officer, or the equivalent position, of a charter school may authorize, in writing, a person who does not hold that credential to issue work permits during periods of time in which the superintendent is absent from the district or the chief executive officer is absent from the charter school.
(f) Notwithstanding the hour limitations imposed by this chapter or any other provision of law, the hour limitations that apply to a work permit issued by any of the individuals described in subdivision (b) shall be based on the school calendar of the school the pupil attends.