Section 1596-E. Civil service status of officers and employees

Officers and
  employees  of  any  board,  commission  or department of the city may be
  transferred to the authority in accordance with the  provisions  of  the
  civil   service  law  and  shall  be  eligible  for  such  transfer  and
  appointment without examination  to  offices  and  positions  under  the
  authority.  Officers  and  employees  of  the  city  who  are members or
  beneficiaries  of  any  existing  pension  or  retirement  system  shall
  continue  to  have  the  rights, privileges, obligations and status with
  respect to such system or systems as are now prescribed by law, and  all
  such  employees  who  have been appointed to positions in the service of
  the city under the rules of the municipal civil  service  commission  of
  the  city shall have the same status with respect thereto after transfer
  to the authority as they had  under  their  original  appointments.  The
  appointment  and  promotion  of  all employees of the authority shall be
  made in accordance with the provisions of the civil service law and  the
  rules of the city civil service commission.