(a) All contracts or leases entered into prior to July l, 1991, by the department of environment and conservation or its predecessor in name, the department of conservation, with any entity, corporation, agency, enterprise or person pertaining to § 11-1-108, title 11, chapter 4, §§ 43-14-218, 54-17-105, 54-17-109 and 67-5-1004, shall continue in full force and effect as to all essential terms and conditions of the contracts in existence on July 1, 1991, to the same extent as if such contracts had originally been entered into by and between such entity, corporation, agency, enterprise or person and the department of agriculture, unless and until such contracts or leases are amended or modified by the parties to such contracts or leases.

(b) All rules, regulations, orders and decisions heretofore issued or promulgated by the department of environment and conservation or its predecessor in name, the department of conservation, pursuant to § 11-1-108, title 11, chapter 4, §§ 43-14-218, 54-17-105, 54-17-109 and 67-5-1004, shall remain in full force and effect and shall hereafter be administered and enforced by the department of agriculture. To this end, the department of agriculture, through the commissioner, has the authority, consistent with the statutes and regulations pertaining to the programs and functions transferred in § 11-1-108, title 11, chapter 4, §§ 43-14-218, 54-17-105, 54-17-109 and 67-5-1004, to modify or rescind orders or rules and regulations heretofore issued and to adopt, issue or promulgate new orders or rules and regulations necessary for the administration of the programs or functions of the department of agriculture transferred in this section.