(a) No suit, action or other proceeding, judicial or administrative, lawfully commenced, or which could have been commenced, by or against any state agency or program mentioned in this act, or by or against any officer of the state in such officer’s official capacity or in relation to the discharge of such officer’s official duties, shall abate by reason of this act. The court may allow any such suit, action or other proceeding to be maintained by or against the successor of any such state agency or any officer affected.

(b) No criminal action commenced or which could have been commenced by the state shall abate by the taking effect of this act.