Any office, department, board, or agency provided for in this article with a name or with powers and duties the same or substantially the same as those of an office, department, board, or agency heretofore existing shall continue to exercise its powers and duties, until otherwise provided. Any provision in any law, rule, regulation, contract, grant, or other document relating to such a formerly existing office, department, board, or agency, shall, so far as not inconsistent with the provisions of this article, apply to such office, department, board, or agency provided for by this article.
Ala. Code § 11-43A-38 (1975)