It is the intent of the council to establish a uniform system for classifying all groups of the county government and for prescribing procedures for their operation. This article must therefore apply to all existing and newly created groups which function as a part of the county government, including all groups established by law, resolution, and executive order. Wherever a conflict exists between this article and state law, the state law must control. It is the intent of the council that any substantive law which creates a group covered by this act shall not be diminished or the group's responsibilities reduced in any manner whatsoever. Wherever a conflict exists between this article and existing county law, the prior county law shall control. (1979 L.M.C., ch. 22, § 1; 2016 L.M.C., ch. 11, § 1.)