(a) There is established a Department of Social Services. The department head shall be the Commissioner of Social Services, who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, with the powers and duties therein prescribed.

(b) The Department of Social Services shall constitute a successor department to the Department of Income Maintenance and the Department of Human Resources in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-38d and 4-39.

(c) Wherever the words “Commissioner of Income Maintenance” or “Commissioner of Human Resources” are used in the general statutes, the words “Commissioner of Social Services” shall be substituted in lieu thereof. Wherever the words “Department of Income Maintenance” or “Department of Human Resources” are used in the general statutes, “Department of Social Services” shall be substituted in lieu thereof.

(d) Any order or regulation of the Department of Income Maintenance or the Department of Human Resources which is in force on July 1, 1993, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of the Department of Social Services until amended, repealed or superseded pursuant to law. Where any order or regulation of said departments conflict, the Commissioner of Social Services may implement policies and procedures consistent with the provisions of public act 93-262* while in the process of adopting the policy or procedure in regulation form, provided notice of intention to adopt the regulations is posted on the eRegulations System within twenty days of implementation. The policy or procedure shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective.