(a) Appropriation.--Funds appropriated to the State Civil Service Commission shall include any funds collected by the commission for the administration of the merit system for employees under the act of August 5, 1941 (P.L. 752, No. 286),¹ known as the Civil Service Act.

(b) Contracts.--From funds appropriated for the operation and administration of the State Civil Service Commission, the commission may enter into contracts for the production of physical copies of examinations or tests, including the questions or other material used in the examinations or tests. Contracts shall require the contractor to maintain security over the examinations or tests to prevent unauthorized persons from gaining access to them while in the contractor's possession.

(c) Agreements.--From funds appropriated for the operation of the commission, the commission may enter into cooperative agreements with departments, boards, commissions and other agencies to provide services, including budget preparation, fiscal oversight, human resources and personnel services, technology services, procurement, courier and mailing and other services. Notwithstanding 62 Pa.C.S. (relating to procurement), the commission may use the Department of General Services as its purchasing agency. The commission shall retain authority over commission work under the cooperative agreement.