On the effective date of this order, all officers and employees who were engaged immediately prior to the effective date of this order in the performance of powers, duties and functions of the crippled children's commission and who, in the opinion of the secretary of health and environment, are necessary to perform the powers, duties and functions transferred to the secretary of health and environment under the provisions of this order shall become officers and employees of the department of health and environment. Any such officer or employee shall retain all retirement benefits and rights of civil service which had accrued to or vested in such officer or employee prior to the effective date of this order, and the service of each such officer and employee so transferred shall be deemed to have been continuous. All transfers and any abolishment of positions of personnel in the classified civil service under the Kansas civil service act shall be in accordance with civil service laws and any rules and regulations adopted thereunder.
K.S.A. 75-5641