This act, or the repeal of any law by this act, shall not change or affect the status, rights, and privileges accrued to employees of the State Commissioner of Health under the State Merit System of Personnel Administration when this act becomes effective. For the purposes of 74 O.S.1961, Sections 801 - 839, the position of State Commissioner of Health established by 63 O.S.1961, Sec. 1.2 and the position of State Commissioner of Health provided for by this Code shall be deemed to be a single continuing agency of the state government, and persons employed by the former Commissioner and continuing as employees of the latter Commissioner shall be entitled to the same status, rights, and privileges under such statutes that they would have had if the former position had remained in existence.
Laws 1963, c. 325, art. 17, § 1704.