No later than April 1, 1975, the Commissioner of Children and Families shall exercise and have all authority, rights, duties and functions granted to or imposed upon the Commissioner of Social Services in the general statutes in the area of adoption of children, including, but not limited to, authority to license or approve agencies under sections 17a-145, 17a-148, 17a-149 and 17a-151, and to act as a statutory parent, as defined in § 45a-707.