Ala. Code § 33-1-5.2

(a) The Alabama State Port Authority may provide and establish a plan of life and health insurance for the salaried officers and employees of the port authority who work full time for the port authority and receive their compensation on a bi-weekly basis and also a plan of health insurance for the spouses and dependent children of officers and employees and to pay the costs and premiums of life and health insurance from the revenues of the port authority.

(b) The health insurance plan may provide for group hospitalization, surgical, medical , and dental insurance against the financial costs of hospitalization, surgical, medical , and dental treatment and care, and may also include, among other things, prescribed drugs, medicines, prosthetic appliances, hospital in-patient and out-patient service benefits, including major medical benefits, or other coverage or benefits as may be deemed appropriate and desirable by the port authority. The life insurance plan shall be a group plan with the face amount of the life insurance coverage on salaried officers and employees limited to amounts as may be deemed appropriate and desirable by the port authority.

(c) The port authority may execute a contract or contracts to provide the benefits under the life and health insurance coverage provided by this section. The contract or contracts may be executed with one or more agents or corporations licensed to transact life and health insurance business in this state. The benefits to be provided under this section may be included in one or more similar contracts issued by the same or different companies. Before entering into any contract , the port authority shall invite competitive bids from qualified insurers who wish to offer plans for the life and health insurance coverage provided by this section.

(d) The benefits provided for in this section shall not exceed the benefits provided to employees of the port authority subject to collective bargaining agreements.

(e) Regardless of whether the port authority provides, establishes, and funds an alternate health insurance plan under this section, the port authority shall pay to the State Employees’ Insurance Fund the monthly employer contribution as defined by Section 36-29-1 for each of its full-time employees, whether Merit, non-merit, or exempt.