Ala. Code § 45-37A-51.160: General Rule.

Each qualified employee in the city who is in the classified service or full-time unclassified service hired after January 1, 1989, including each qualified employee in the full-time service of the police and fire departments shall be a participant in the system, except as provided in Section 45-37A-51.161. Those officers and appointed employees, who have not timely elected to participate as set forth in Section 45-37A-51.162, shall not participate in the pension system.