All employees of the state holding positions brought into the classified service by the Personnel Act shall be continued in their positions and become regular employees without original examinations, if they have held the position for at least one year immediately prior to the effective date of the Personnel Act. All other employees of the state holding positions brought into the service by the Personnel Act shall be continued in their positions as probationers until they have, not later than one year from the effective date of the Personnel Act, taken and passed a qualifying test prescribed by the director for the position held. An employee who fails to qualify shall be dismissed within thirty days after the establishment of an employment or promotion list for his position. Nothing in the Personnel Act shall preclude the reclassification or reallocation of any position held by an incumbent.
This section shall not apply to employees of the grant-in-aid agencies whose status as employees or probationers shall be recognized under rules to be promulgated by the board.