1. Commissioner of Health and Human Services. When the Department of Health and Human Services is appointed public guardian or conservator of a person, the authority of the public guardian or conservator must be exercised by the Commissioner of Health and Human Services and by any persons duly delegated by the commissioner to exercise such authority.

2. Delegation of authority. Persons duly delegated by the officials authorized to act under subsection 1 may include a staff of competent social workers or competent social workers assigned to the public guardian or conservator by the Department of Health and Human Services. In the event that the delegation is to an individual, such individual must be qualified by reason of education or experience, or both, in administering to the needs of the individual or individuals over whom the individual is to exercise administrative or supervisory authority under the public guardian.