(a) The state library advisory commission established by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-2546, and amendments thereto, and the Kansas library network board established by Kan. Stat. Ann. § 75-2578, and amendments thereto, are hereby abolished. Except as otherwise provided by this act, all powers, duties and functions of the existing commission and board are hereby transferred to and imposed upon the state library of Kansas board.

(b) Except as otherwise provided by this act, the state library of Kansas board shall be the successor in every way to the powers, duties and functions of the state library advisory commission and the Kansas library network board in which the same were vested prior to the effective date of this act. Every act performed in the exercise of such transferred powers, duties and functions by or under the authority of the state library of Kansas board shall be deemed to have the same force and effect as if performed by the state library advisory commission or the Kansas library network board in which the powers, duties and functions were vested prior to the effective date of this act.

(c) Whenever the state library advisory commission or the Kansas library network board, or words of like effect, is referred to or designated by a statute, contract or other document, such reference or designation shall be deemed to apply to the state library of Kansas board established by this act.

(d) On the effective date of this act, any officer or employee who was an officer or employee of the state library advisory commission or the Kansas library network board and who immediately prior to the effective date of this act was engaged in the performance of the same or similar powers, duties and functions which are transferred to or imposed upon the state library of Kansas board or the state librarian by this act and who, in the opinion of the state librarian, is necessary to perform such powers, duties and functions shall become an officer or employee of the state librarian and shall retain all retirement benefits which such officer or employee had before the effective date of this act and the officer’s or employee’s services shall be deemed to have been continuous. Any classified employee so transferred shall retain the employee’s status as a classified employee.

(e) The balances of all funds or accounts thereof appropriated or reappropriated for the state library advisory commission or the Kansas library network board are hereby transferred within the state treasury to the state librarian and shall be used only for the purpose for which the appropriation was originally made. Liability for all accrued compensation or salaries of officers and employees who are transferred to the state librarian under this act shall be assumed and paid by the state librarian.

(f) All books, records and other property of the state library advisory commission or the Kansas library network board are hereby transferred to and become the property of the state library of Kansas board.

(g) All rules and regulations of the state library advisory commission or the Kansas library network board in existence on the effective date of this act shall continue to be effective and shall be deemed to be duly adopted rules and regulations of the state library of Kansas board established by this act until revised, amended, revoked or nullified pursuant to law.

(h) All orders and directives of the state library advisory commission or the Kansas library network board in existence on the effective date of this act shall continue to be effective and shall be deemed to be orders and directives of the state library of Kansas board established by this act until revised, amended or nullified pursuant to law.