All persons, other than temporary employees, serving in the state civil service and engaged in the performance of a function transferred to the Division of Resource Conservation, Department of Conservation or engaged in the administration of a law, the administration of which is transferred to said division, shall remain in the state civil service and are hereby transferred to the division on the effective date of this act. The status, positions, and rights of such persons shall not be affected by their transfer and shall continue to be retained by them pursuant to the State Civil Service Act, except as to positions the duties of which are vested in a position that is exempt from civil service.