Each state employee affected by the reorganization of the executive branch of state government under public act 77-614 shall be entitled to all rights which he possessed as a state employee before the effective date of the applicable provision of public act 77-614, including all rights to a position in the classified service, all rights of rank or grade, rights to vacation, sick pay and leave, rights under any retirement or personnel plan and any other rights under any law or administrative policy. This section shall not be construed to create any new rights for any state employee, but to continue only those rights in effect before the effective date of public act 77-614.