The provisions of this Code insofar as they are the same or substantially the same as those of any prior statute, shall be construed as a continuation of such prior statute and not as a new enactment.
If in any other statute reference is made to an act of the General Assembly, or a section of such an act, which is continued in this Code, such reference shall be held to refer to the act or section thereof so continued in this Code.
65 ILCS 5/1-9-3