(a) There is established a Department of Public Health. The department head shall be the Commissioner of Public Health, who shall be appointed by the Governor in accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, with the powers and duties prescribed therein.

(b) The Department of Public Health shall constitute a successor department to the Department of Public Health and Addiction Services for the purposes of the chapters and sections listed in § 19a-1c, in accordance with sections 4-38d and 4-39.

(c) Any order or regulation of the Department of Public Health and Addiction Services which is in force on July 1, 1995, shall continue in force and effect as an order or regulation of the Department of Public Health until amended, repealed or superseded pursuant to law. Where any order or regulation of said departments conflict, the Commissioner of Public Health may implement policies and procedures consistent with the provisions of public act 95-257* while in the process of adopting the policy or procedure in regulation form, provided notice of intention to adopt the regulations is printed in the Connecticut Law Journal within twenty days of implementation. The policy or procedure shall be valid until the time final regulations are effective.