All functions, powers, duties, and obligations heretofore vested in the Board of Directors of the North Carolina Specialty Hospitals and Eastern North Carolina Hospital are hereby transferred to and vested in the Department. All appropriations heretofore made to such Board of Directors or to any of the hospitals are hereby transferred to the Department. The Secretary of the Department shall have the power and duty to adopt rules for the operation of these facilities. (1979, c. 838, s. 46; 1983, c. 775, s. 1.)