There is hereby created the Alabama Department of Corrections, hereinafter referred to as "the department" which shall have all of the duties, responsibilities, authority, power, assets, liabilities, property, funds, appropriations, contractual rights and obligations, property rights and personnel, whether accruing or vested, by operation or by law and which are not in conflict with this section and Sections 14-1-1.2 through 14-1-1.5 which, prior to the enactment of Sections 14-1-15 through 14-1-17, were vested in a Board of Corrections and which, by virtue of such statutes, vested in the Governor of the State of Alabama.
Ala. Code § 14-1-1.1 (1975)