Employees of the state entomological commission in the classified service under the Kansas civil service act on the effective date of this act, shall be employed in the same or comparable positions in the Kansas department of agriculture, and shall retain, rights and status acquired under said civil service act. The secretary of the Kansas department of agriculture shall have the power and authority to appoint, in accordance with the provisions of the Kansas civil service act, such entomologists, and other assistants as may be necessary to administer articles 4, 7, 21, and 24 ofchapter 2 of the Kansas Statutes Annotated, and amendments thereto.