A little off the topic, but the ways California finds to be different are many and profound.
Here in Reno, we have miles of warehouses, each of which are divided into "California legal" and "everywhere else" sections. Trucks have to be re-tasked, as California has vastly different highway rules than every other state west of the Mississippi (2000+ miles).
Likewise, California electricians have certain practices, and assumptions, as to what the code requires, that are somewhat different than what the NEC actually calls out. Not that they're bad guys, mind you, but California seems intent on differentiating themselves from the rest of the US.
There are significant differences in the way things are built "out west" as compared to "back east." For example, in California windowsills are non-existant, and screens seem to be a unique affectation of recent arrivals!
So, sure, help your sister. It will help a lot if you have a friendly relationship with the electrician- the GC you're sister is dealing with seems a bit confrontational. It is almost certain that what you specify will be a little different and a little more costly than the contractors' "usual," but she'll get a much better system in the deal.
One final detail: The newer t-5 and t-8 fixtures come with "bluer" bulbs than folks are accustomed to....so designers often specify the yuckiest yellow paint- which looks 'normal' under these lights.
