(a) Duties.--The Office of Administration shall have the power and duty to implement and administer this part as follows:

(1) Perform the duties conducted, prior to the effective date of this section, by the commission and the director under section 2201 (relating to transfer of duties).

(2) Direct and supervise the administrative work of merit system employment.

(3) Appoint staff to classified service positions necessary to carry out the provisions of this part.

(4) Provide merit system employment for the Commonwealth in accordance with this part.

(5) Advertise, on the Office of Administration's publicly accessible Internet website and in each Office of Administration announcement and advertisement, that:

(i) veterans' preference is the law of this Commonwealth;

(ii) to determine standing on each certified eligibility list, an additional 10 points shall be applied to the final examination score obtained by a veteran, in accordance with 51 Pa.C.S. § 7103 (relating to additional points in grading civil service examinations); and

(iii) the same preferential rating given to veterans under this chapter shall be extended to include spouses of deceased or disabled veterans, in accordance with 51 Pa.C.S. § 7108 (relating to preference of spouses).

(6) Administer this part, except for Chapters 30 (relating to State Civil Service Commission and director) and 31 (relating to hearings and records).

(7) Request assistance from State departments, agencies, boards or commissions, if necessary.

(8) Cooperate with other civil service agencies.

(9) Investigate as requested by the Governor or the General Assembly and to report on the investigation.

(10) Investigate, notwithstanding any other provision of this part, personnel action taken under this part and hold public hearings, record findings and conclusions and order action to assure observance of this part.

(11) Administer oaths and require testimony and the production of documents and records.

(12) Appoint a special advisor for veterans' programs who shall be a veteran and who will:

(i) ensure compliance under this part with the provisions of 51 Pa.C.S. Pt. V (relating to employment preferences and pensions); and

(ii) promote and implement policies to increase the awareness and understanding of the value of recruiting, hiring and retaining veterans for the Commonwealth workforce under this part.

(b) Oaths, testimony and documents.--The following shall apply:

(1) The Secretary of Administration and any other employee or agency authorized by the secretary shall have the power to administer oaths in matters pertaining to the work of the Office of Administration under this part.

(2) The Office of Administration shall have the power to secure by subpoena the attendance and testimony of witnesses and the production of documents and records.

(c) Authority of court.--A judge of a court of record shall, upon proper application of the Office of Administration, compel the attendance of witnesses, the production of documents and records and the giving of testimony before the Office of Administration in the same manner as the production of evidence may be compelled before the court.