After a final determination of discharge under this act by an appointing authority, any person, other than teachers and other employes of the public school system, in the employ of the Commonwealth or of any political subdivision who believes himself aggrieved by the determination may appeal from the determination by an application in writing to the Civil Service Commission of the Commonwealth within twenty days after receiving written notice of the determination. The commission shall set a time and place for hearing the appeal on the record, which hearing shall not be more than thirty (30) days after receipt thereof, and give due notice of said hearing to the appellant and to the appointing authority whose determination is under review. The hearing shall be held by the commission or by a person or persons, not exceeding three, designated by the commission in writing to hear the appeal in its behalf. The commission, in its discretion, may designate such person or persons to hear the appeal and to report to the commission. The report shall be acted upon by the entire commission. The persons so designated by the commission may be officers or employes of the civil service of the Commonwealth. The person or persons holding the hearing may make such inquiry as may be deemed advisable. Within sixty (60) days after the hearing on appeal, the commission shall affirm or reverse the findings and determination under review, and, in the case of reversal, shall order the reinstatement of the appellant, who shall be entitled to back pay from the date of his discharge. For the purposes of this section, officers and employes of the Department of Public Instruction or of any of its departmental administrative boards or commissions shall not be construed to be employes of the public school system. They shall be entitled to appeal to the Civil Service Commission as provided herein.
65 P.S. § 219