(A) There is established the Department of Alcohol and Other Drug Abuse Services. The department shall be vested with all the functions, powers, and duties, of the South Carolina Commission on Alcoholism and the South Carolina Commission on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and shall have full authority for formulating, coordinating and administering the state plans for controlling narcotics and controlled substances and alcohol abuse.

(B) All functions, powers, and duties of the commissioner of the narcotics and controlled substances section of the State Planning and Grants Division (Division of Administration in the Office of the Governor) are hereby transferred to the department, except those powers and duties related to the traffic of narcotics and controlled substances as defined in § 44-53-130 which shall be vested in the State Law Enforcement Division.

(C) All rules and regulations promulgated by the commissioner of narcotics and controlled substances shall remain in effect until changed by the department.

(D) The department is authorized to establish a block grant mechanism to provide such monies as may be appropriated by the Legislature for this purpose to each of the agencies designated under § 61-12-20(a). The distribution of these monies must be on a per capita basis according to the most recent United States Census. The agencies designated under § 61-12-20(a) must expend any funds received through this mechanism in accordance with the county plans required under § 61-12-20(b).

(E) The department is authorized to develop such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the provisions of this chapter as it may find to be reasonably appropriate for the government of the county plans called for in § 61-12-20(b), and the financial and programmatic accountability of funds provided under this section and all other funds provided by the department to agencies designated under § 61-12-20(a).