4. Contracts and agreements. All contracts and agreements in effect on the effective date of this Act with the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf remain in effect until rescinded, terminated or modified by the School Board of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf.

5. Personnel transferred. Classified and unclassified employees assigned to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf must be transferred from state employment to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf in its capacity as an independent agency. Fringe benefits from state employment of the transferred personnel, including vacation and sick leave, health and life insurance and retirement, remain with the transferred personnel. The rights and benefits under statutes, rules and collective bargaining agreements in effect on the effective date of this Act or successor collective bargaining agreements continue for all transferred personnel. If these collective bargaining agreements expire, or have expired on the effective date of this Act, the status, rights and benefits of covered employees must be maintained according to applicable labor law principles. All personnel transferred from state employment to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf as an independent agency retain all applicable seniority rights and privileges and all other rights and privileges with regard to employment in state service for a period of 2 years from the effective date of this Act. During this 2-year period, the recall provisions of these applicable laws, rules and collective bargaining agreements continue to apply for all transferred personnel with layoff status to the filling of any vacancy in the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf. Transferred personnel who refuse recall to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf retain full recall rights to all other agencies of State Government.

At the end of the 2-year period, the transferred personnel have the same rights and privileges as employees of the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf hired on and after the effective date of this Act based on personnel rules, policies and collective bargaining agreements applicable to the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf employees in effect on the effective date of this Act. Transferred personnel may choose to be covered under the Governor Baxter School for the Deaf personnel system and benefits before the 2-year period expires.