All employees heretofore engaged in the performance of duties in each agency transferred in accordance with this Part are hereby transferred to the department to which the employing agency is transferred, to the extent the secretary deems necessary to carry out the functions of the agency so transferred and shall, insofar as practicable and necessary, continue to perform the duties heretofore performed, subject to applicable state civil service laws, rules, and regulations.
La. R.S. § 36:857