The department of commerce and secretary of commerce shall be the successors in every way, respectively, to the powers, duties and functions of the department of economic development and secretary of economic development, except as hereinafter otherwise provided. Every act performed in the exercise of such powers, duties and functions by or under the authority of the department of commerce or secretary of commerce, respectively, shall be deemed to have the same force and effect as if performed by the department of economic development and secretary of economic development. The department and secretary of commerce shall be continuations of the department of economic development and the secretary of economic development.
K.S.A. 74-5002c