Ala. Code § 45-48-121.07: Promulgation of Rules.

(a) The board shall make rules and regulations governing examinations, eligible registers, appointments, transfers, salaries, promotions, demotions, annual and sick leave, employee fringe benefits, seniority (which shall be based on actual time employed by the county), and such other matters as may be necessary to accomplish the purposes of this part.

(b) A rule or regulation may be made effective only after a public hearing, for which a 30-day notice must be given, is held on the proposal thereof and after a certified copy thereof has been filed with the county governing body. All employees shall be appointed upon a nonpartisan merit basis. There shall not be appointed, and the board shall not examine, any person who is not a citizen of the United States. The board shall:

(1) Classify the different types of services to be performed in the service of the county.

(2) Prescribe qualifications, including those of education, training, and experience, for the appointees and incumbents of each class.

(3) Fix a maximum and minimum salary for each class. The board shall review salaries paid by local industry and provide salary scales consistent to the extent possible with the local private sector.

(4) Allocate each position in the service to its proper class.

(c) The board shall provide for the periodic rating of employees according to their merit to determine whether they are maintaining standards of service. The board shall establish rules and regulations governing dismissals, suspensions, lay-offs, terminations, and leaves of absence, and the severance of any employee’s relationship with the county shall be in accordance with such regulations.