(1) The staff of the department shall, on and after July 1, 2008, execute, administer, perform, and enforce the rights, powers, duties, functions, and obligations vested in the office of work force development prior to said date concerning the duties and functions transferred to the staff of the department pursuant to this section.

(2) (a) On and after July 1, 2008, the officers and employees of the office of work force development prior to said date whose duties and functions concerned the duties and functions transferred to the staff of the department pursuant to this section shall be transferred to the department.

(b) Any such employees who are classified employees in the state personnel system shall retain all rights to the personnel system and retirement benefits pursuant to the laws of this state, and their services shall be deemed to have been continuous. All transfers and any abolishment of positions in the state personnel system shall be made and processed in accordance with state personnel system laws and regulations.

(3) On July 1, 2008, all items of property, real and personal, including office furniture and fixtures, books, documents, and records of the office of work force development prior to said date pertaining to the duties and functions transferred to the staff of the department pursuant to this section, are transferred to the department and become the property thereof.

(4) Whenever the office of work force development is referred to or designated by a contract or other document in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the staff of the department pursuant to this article, such reference or designation shall be deemed to apply to the department. All contracts entered into by the office of work force development prior to July 1, 2008, in connection with the duties and functions transferred to the staff of the department pursuant to this section are hereby validated, with the department succeeding to all the rights and obligations of such contracts. Any appropriations of funds from prior fiscal years open to satisfy obligations incurred pursuant to such contracts are hereby transferred and appropriated to the department for the payment of such obligations.