71 Pa. Stat. § 1466
It shall be the duty of the commission to advise the commissioner on such matters as he may bring before it or as it may require him to bring before it, and it shall have general supervision over the policies of the department. It shall be the duty of the commissioner to report to the commission, from time to time, the information found upon the examination and visitation hereinafter provided, the measures taken to correct any detrimental conditions in the institutions or places under the supervision of the department, and the result thereof.
The rules and regulations of the department shall be made by the commissioner, subject to the approval of the commission, and, when so made and approved, shall constitute the duly ordained rules and regulations of the department, and be promulgated and enforced as such.
The commissioner, with the approval of the commission, shall establish certain bureaus in the department, not to exceed four in number, and apportion to each of them such specific duties as may best promote an efficient administration of the department. One of said bureaus shall be a bureau of mental health to further the prevention and cure of mental diseases. And the head of such bureau shall be a physician specially experienced in mental diseases.
Subject to the foregoing, all the duties imposed upon, and the powers vested in, the department, shall be exercised and carried out by the commissioner or under his direction.
71 P.S. § 1466