(a) General rule.--The department shall have the power and its duty shall be:
(1) To establish standards for county correctional institutions, including, but not limited to, standards for physical facilities and standards for correctional programs of treatment, education and rehabilitation of inmates.
(2) To inspect county correctional institutions and to classify them in accordance with standards adopted under paragraph (1) as eligible to receive inmates sentenced to maximum terms of six months or more but less than five years.
(b) Rules and regulations.--The department may prescribe, adopt, promulgate and enforce rules and regulations in order to administer the provisions of this section.