The State Department of Health Services succeeds to and is vested with the duties, purposes, responsibilities, and jurisdiction exercised by the State Department of Health or the State Department of Benefit Payments pursuant to Chapter 7 (commencing with Section 14000), Chapter 8 (commencing with Section 14200), Chapter 8.5 (commencing with Section 14500), and Chapter 8.7 (commencing with Section 14520) of this part on the date immediately prior to the date this section becomes operative. Functions transferred pursuant to this section include the management and administration of the Health Care Deposit Fund and the audit and recovery of amounts due as the result of payments made under the California Medical Assistance Program (Medi-Cal).

Transfer to the State Department of Health Services of the above functions shall not impair any contract between the State Department of Health or the State Department of Benefit Payments and any third party and such transfer shall neither create nor vest any right or obligation in either party. In no case shall the substitution of the State Department of Health Services for the State Department of Health or the State Department of Benefit Payments be considered a breach of contract or failure of performance, nor shall it disturb the legal relationships of the parties.

(Amended by Stats. 1978, Ch. 432.)