ARTICLE 8. GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

§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.

§20-8-2. Transfer of records, appropriations, facilities and other properties and assets.

As of the effective date of this chapter, the records, funds, unexpended appropriations, facilities, equipment and real and personal properties and assets of every kind and character belonging to, owned by or in the custody and control of any governmental corporation, agency, office or activity abolished or transferred to and absorbed in the department of natural resources by the provisions of this chapter shall be by each such governmental corporation, agency, office or activity transferred and delivered to the department of natural resources or to the identifiable successor to the abolished corporation, agency, office or activity as in this chapter established and constituted. It is the intent and purpose of the provisions of this section that continuity in the governmental operations, functions and services affected by this transition shall not be interrupted or impeded.

§20-8-3. Construction of chapter; severability.

The provisions of this chapter shall be liberally construed to effect the objects and purposes hereof. The provisions of the chapter shall be construed to be separable and severable and in the event any clause, sentence or provision hereof shall for any reason be construed or held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such unconstitutionality or invalidity shall not affect or impair the remaining provisions hereof.

§20-8-4. Effective date.

The provisions of this chapter shall become effective on July 1, 1961.