Okla. Stat. tit. 63, § 63-1-1704: Status of employees under Merit System not changed

This act, or the repeal of any law by this act, shall not change

or affect the status, rights, and privileges accrued to employees of

the State Commissioner of Health under the State Merit System of

Personnel Administration when this act becomes effective. For the

purposes of 74 O.S.1961, Sections 801 - 839, the position of State

Commissioner of Health established by 63 O.S.1961, Sec. 1.2 and the

position of State Commissioner of Health provided for by this Code

shall be deemed to be a single continuing agency of the state

government, and persons employed by the former Commissioner and

continuing as employees of the latter Commissioner shall be entitled

to the same status, rights, and privileges under such statutes that

they would have had if the former position had remained in

existence.