Transfer of officers and employees; rights and benefits preserved

(a) All officers and employees of the department of health and environment who, immediately prior to the effective date of this order, are engaged in the exercise and performance of the powers, duties, and functions transferred by this order, as well as all officers and employees of the department of health and environment who are determined by the secretary of health and environment and the secretary of agriculture to be engaged in providing administrative, technical, or other support services that are essential to the exercise and performance of the powers, duties, and functions transferred by this order, are hereby transferred to the department of agriculture. All classified employees so transferred shall retain their status as classified employees. (b) Officers and employees of the department of health and environment transferred by this order shall retain all retirement benefits and leave balances and rights which had accrued or vested prior to the date of transfer. The service of each such officer and employee so transferred shall be deemed to have been continuous. Any subsequent transfers, layoffs, or abolition of classified service positions under the Kansas civil service act shall be made in accordance with the civil service laws and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder. Nothing in this order shall affect the classified status of any transferred person employed by the department of health and environment prior to the date of transfer.