§20-8-1. Transition in terms; continuity.

Whenever in this code and elsewhere in law the terms "the conservation commission of West Virginia," "conservation commission," "director of conservation" and similar and related terms are used and referenced, they shall be read, understood and construed in the light of the enactment of this chapter by which the conservation commission and the office of director of conservation are abolished and the responsibilities, functions and services thereof are transferred to and absorbed in the Division of Natural Resources, the natural resources commission and the office of director of the Division of Natural Resources as in this chapter provided.

Any litigation instituted, entered into or pending to which any of the governmental corporations and agencies abolished by this chapter are named parties may be continued and prosecuted to completion in such party names or, at the option of the litigants and by leave of court, such party names may be amended or changed to correspond with the names of the successor governmental corporations and agencies as in this chapter provided.

All contracts, compacts and agreements, heretofore entered into by any of the governmental corporations and agencies hereby abolished, shall continue to be the obligations of the respective successor corporations and agencies as in this chapter provided. No provision of this chapter shall be construed as impairing the obligation of any contract.