Notwithstanding the provisions of any general, special or local law, any proceedings taken prior to December 12, 1934 by any district relating to the subject matter of this article, whether or not commenced under any other law, may be continued under this article, or at the option of the governing body, may be discontinued and new proceedings instituted under this article. If a district evidences its desire to continue any prior proceedings under this article by the adoption of a resolution to that effect by its governing body, all acts of the district and of any other agency of the state in connection therewith, including but not limited to, the submission to and approval by the state certification board of any contract or agreement, the submission of any such contract or agreement to a vote of the electors of the district, taken or had in the proceedings prior to December 12, 1934, shall, if the proceedings were when taken substantially in conformity with the provisions of this article, be validated and of the same force and effect as if this article had been in effect at the time the proceedings were had. If any district, prior to December 12, 1934, has entered into any contract or agreement with the federal government as contemplated by this article, performance of which has not been completed by the federal government, or with any public or private agency pursuant to any contract or agreement with the federal government, the contract or agreement so entered into shall be deemed authorized, validated and confirmed by this article and entitled to all the privileges and subject to all the terms and provisions of this article.