Ala. Code § 33-1-5

(a) All employees and officers of the Alabama State Port Authority, except the director, non-merit system employees hired or employed pursuant to Section 33-1-3, and those exempt under Section 36-26-10, shall be subject to the provisions of the state Merit System law with respect to the method of selection, classification, and compensation of state employees. Sections 33-1-5.1 and 33-1-5.2 shall apply to the director and the non-merit system employees hired or employed pursuant to Section 33-1-3, including their spouses and dependents.

(b) The port authority may employ port police officers at the Port of Mobile, who shall be employed pursuant to the state Merit System or pursuant to Section 33-1-3. Port police officers employed pursuant to this subsection are constituted peace officers of the State of Alabama with full police power and jurisdiction to enforce the laws of the state and the rules and regulations which may be adopted by the port authority on property owned by or otherwise within the jurisdiction of the port authority and the approaches thereto. Port police officers shall meet the minimum standards for law enforcement officers provided by law.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provision of law to the contrary, the board of directors of the port authority may adopt and implement an employee compensation plan applicable to the director, the non-merit system employees hired or employed pursuant to Section 33-1-3 , and those employees employed pursuant to the state Merit System that provides for compensation to the employees solely out of funds of the port authority in addition to any other compensation payable to any employees under existing law as an incentive for achieving goals specified by the plan. The employee compensation plan may compensate Merit System employees in excess of, and in addition to, the normal compensation received by the Merit System employee. The compensation plan shall complement the existing pay plan applicable to Merit System employees.

(d) Nothing in this section shall be construed to change, alter, diminish, or amend the state Merit System laws or rules which shall continue to apply to all Merit System employees employed by the port authority.