19835. (a) The right of an employee to automatic salary adjustments is cumulative for a period not to exceed two years and he or she shall not, in the event of an insufficiency of appropriation, lose his or her right to these adjustments for the intermediate steps to which he or she may be entitled for this period.(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 the 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.(Amended by Stats. 2001, Ch. 364, Sec. 21. Effective September 27, 2001.)