Okla. Stat. tit. 69, § 69-319: Status of employees under Merit and Retirement Systems not

changed.

This Code shall not affect the status, rights and privileges

accrued under the State Merit System of Personnel Administration, or

the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System, to persons serving

as employees of the Department of Highways created by 69 O.S.1961,

Section 20.1, when this Code becomes effective, and continuing to

serve as employees of the Department created by Section 301 of this

Code. For the purposes of 74 O.S.1961, Sections 801 - 839, as

amended, and Chapter 50, Oklahoma Session Laws 1963 (74 O.S. Supp.

1965, Sections 901 - 928), the former Department and the latter

Department shall be deemed to be a single continuing department or

agency of the state government; and persons serving as employees of

the former Department and continuing as employees of the latter

Department shall be entitled to the same status, rights and

privileges that they would have had if the former Department had

remained in existence.