Section 5001. Saving clause; construction

1. Nothing contained in this act
  shall affect or impair any  act  done  or  right  accruing,  accrued  or
  acquired, or any penalty, forfeiture or punishment incurred prior to the
  time  when  this  act  shall  take  effect,  under  or  by virtue of the
  provision  or  provisions  of  the  public  health  law,  as  in   force
  immediately  prior  to the time this act shall take effect, but the same
  may be asserted, enforced, prosecuted or inflicted, as fully and to  the
  same extent as if this act shall not have taken effect.
    2.  An  act of the legislature of the year nineteen hundred fifty-four
  which adds or purports to add a new  article,  section,  subdivision  or
  other provision of law to the public health law, as in force immediately
  prior  to  the  time  this  act  shall  take effect, shall be deemed and
  construed as having been added to such law, as amended by this act,  and
  shall  be  given full effect according to its context as if the same had
  been added expressly and in terms of such law, as amended by  this  act,
  and  shall be deemed and construed to have been inserted in such law, as
  amended by this act, in the appropriate respective position in regard to
  and as modifying the effect of the corresponding provision or provisions
  of such law, as amended by this act.
    3. Reference in any act  of  the  legislature  of  the  year  nineteen
  hundred fifty-four to an existing article, section, subdivision or other
  provision of the public health law, as in force immediately prior to the
  time  this act shall take effect, shall be deemed and construed to refer
  to the corresponding article, section, subdivision or other provision of
  such law, as renumbered, modified or amended by this act.
    4. Reference in any general, special or local law, rule, regulation or
  public document to any provision or provisions of the public health law,
  as in force immediately prior to the time this act  shall  take  effect,
  shall  be deemed to be and construed as a reference to the corresponding
  provision or provisions of such law, as renumbered, modified or  amended
  by  this act, irrespective of whether such provision or provisions is or
  are  contained  in  one  or  more  than  one  title,  article,  section,
  subdivision or other part thereof.
    5.  The provisions of this chapter in so far as they are substantially
  the same as the existing provisions of the public health  law  shall  be
  construed  as  a  continuation  of  the  provisions of the former public
  health law and not as new enactments.
    6. This chapter shall not affect pending actions or proceedings, civil
  or criminal, but the same may be prosecuted  or  defended  in  the  same
  manner  and  with  the  same  effect as though this chapter had not been
  passed.