(a) To formulate, establish and maintain a plan or plans to encourage and reward unusual and meritorious suggestions and accomplishments by state employees and suggestions of retired state employees promoting efficiency and economy in the performance of any function of state government;

(b) To appoint departmental or divisional boards or committees, from among persons nominated therefor by the respective department or agency heads, which shall analyze and review suggestions and accomplishments of state employees and suggestions of retired state employees submitted for consideration under such plan or plans and make recommendations thereon to the commission;

(c) To make and render merit awards to or for the benefit of state employees and retired state employees nominated to receive them in accordance with such plan or plans;

(d) To adopt and promulgate rules and regulations governing the operation of any plan or plans established under this article, the eligibility and qualifications of state employees and retired state employees participating therein, the character and quality of suggestions and accomplishments submitted for consideration, the method of their submission and the procedure for their review, nominations for merit awards, and the kind, character and value of such awards, and such other rules and regulations as may be deemed necessary or appropriate for the proper administration of this article or for the accomplishment of the purposes thereof;

(e) Upon the request of a public authority or other agency not in the state service but under the jurisdiction of the civil service department, to receive, pass upon and make awards for suggestions submitted by employees and retired employees of such authority or agency, provided such authority or agency agrees to abide by the decisions of the commission and to pay the costs of all awards granted by the commission to its employees.