No suit, action or other proceeding lawfully commenced by or against any department, board, commission, agency or any officer of the state, in his official capacity or in relation to the discharge of his official duties, shall abate by the reason of the taking effect of any reorganization under the provisions of this act. The court may allow the suit, action or other proceeding to be maintained by or against the successor of any department, board, commission, agency or any officer affected by this act.

     All rules, regulations and orders of departments, boards, commissions or other agencies lawfully adopted prior to the effective date of any provision of this act shall continue to be effective until revised, amended or repealed.

     No criminal action commenced by the state shall abate by the taking effect of this act.

     The governor may appoint the head of any principal department not otherwise elected or appointed. Prior to assuming his duties as head of a department, the appointee shall have full access to all departments and agencies and records thereof relevant to his prospective duties for the purpose of formulating the internal organization of the department. During the period before the transfer of any powers, duties and functions in accordance with this act, existing departments and agencies shall continue to exercise their powers, duties and functions.

     The governor shall establish, from time to time, by executive order the effective date of each section of this act which provides for the transfer of any organizational entity or the powers, duties and functions of any organizational entity or officer as provided in this act, but in no case shall such transfer change the powers, duties and functions of any state official elected in a general election prior to January 1, 1964, before the expiration of his term of office in contravention of the state constitution. All provisions of this act shall become effective not later than December 31, 1966.

     The governor may establish in the departments of commerce, labor, state police, military affairs, public health, licensing and regulation, and social services, advisory councils consisting of 8 members appointed by the governor with the advice and consent of the senate. The term of office of each member of an advisory council shall be 4 years, except that of the members first appointed, 2 each shall be appointed for terms of 1, 2, 3 and 4 years. A member appointed to fill a vacancy occurring other than by expiration of a term shall be appointed for the unexpired term. The advisory councils shall meet upon the call of the head of their respective departments and shall advise and consult with the head of the department. Members of advisory councils shall receive no compensation, but may be reimbursed for the actual and necessary expenses incurred in carrying out their advisory functions.

     If under any law a state officer or state department official is designated as a member of a governmental agency and if such state officer or state departmental official is not continued under the provisions of this act, the governor by executive order may designate a state officer or state departmental official to succeed to the membership.

     When a single executive is the head of a principal department, unless elected as provided in the constitution, he shall be appointed by the governor by and with the advice and consent of the senate and he shall serve at the pleasure of the governor.