(a) Prior to the interdepartmental transfer of any employee with less than five years of continuous state service, the department to which the employee is transferring may require the employee to execute a written statement acknowledging that a new working test period is required in the new department and that the employee retains no rights to any former class or employment in either department. If the department to which the employee is transferring fails to require the employee to execute the statement, the employee shall be considered a permanent status employee in the new class in the department to which the employee transferred.

(b) An employee with five years or more of continuous state service who accepts an interdepartmental transfer shall be required to serve a working test period in the class in the new department; provided, however, if the employee previously held permanent status in a class on a pay grade lower than the class to which the employee transferred in the new department, the employee shall retain permanent status rights to the lower class in the new department.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Code section, a transfer between units of the Department of Human Resources, including county departments of health and county departments of family and children services, shall not be deemed to be an interdepartmental transfer subject to the provisions of this Code section.