The board of state auditors is hereby authorized to secure all electrotyped plates for all reports belonging to the state, and it is hereby authorized to secure or purchase any electrotyped or stereotyped plates of reports that the state does not now own, and thereafter said board shall at all times keep complete electrotyped or stereotyped plates for all volumes of the reports in good order for printing. Any moneys paid for the purchase of such plates of reports not now owned by the state shall be paid out of any moneys in the general fund of the state on the order of the board of state auditors.