Sec. 298.5. (a) "Public health authority", for purposes of IC 16-22-8 and IC 16-41-9, means:
(1) the state health commissioner of the state department;
(2) a deputy or an assistant state health commissioner appointed by the state health commissioner, or an agent expressly authorized by the state health commissioner;
(3) the local health officer; or
(4) a health and hospital corporation established under IC 16-22-8-6.
(b) "Public health authority", for purposes of IC 16-19 and IC 16-42-27, means any of the following who is a licensed prescriber:
(1) A deputy or assistant state health commissioner appointed by the state health commissioner to act as a public health authority.
(2) An agent employed by the state department that is expressly authorized by the state health commissioner to act as a public health authority.