(a) Effective on the date specified in accordance with subsection (d), the Information Services Division of the Department of Finance, which was established on March 19, 1997, by the Director of Finance with the approval of the Governor pursuant to Section 41-4-37, and which thereby assumed the authority, powers, and duties of, and succeeded to, the divisions of Data Systems Management and Telecommunications of the Department of Finance, is abolished. On such date, all powers, authority, and duties of the Information Services Division, including, but not limited to, those authorities currently established in Articles 8 and 11 of Chapter 4 of this title, shall be transferred to the Office of Information Technology. All references in any law or rule to the Division of Data Systems Management, the Telecommunications Division, or the Information Services Division of the Department of Finance shall be deemed a reference to the Office of Information Technology. In any law or rule relating to the Division of Data Systems Management, the Telecommunications Division, or the Information Services Division, all references to the Department of Finance shall be deemed a reference to the Office of Information Technology, and all references to the Director of Finance shall be deemed a reference to the Secretary of Information Technology.

(b) Effective on the date specified in accordance with subsection (d), all books, records, supplies, funds, equipment, and personnel of the Information Services Division of the Department of Finance shall be transferred to the Office of Information Technology.

(c) All persons employed by the Department of Finance who are identified by the Finance Director as employees of the Information Services Division on the date specified in accordance with subsection (d), shall be transferred to the Office of Information Technology. Such transfer shall result without loss of salary, benefits, seniority, or decrease in Merit System classification.

(d) This section shall take effect on a date agreed upon by the Director of Finance and the Secretary of Information Technology, set forth in a writing, signed by both parties, certifying that they have jointly developed an implementation plan for the orderly transfer of authority, powers, duties, property, records, and personnel provided for herein.