For the purposes of this part, the following words have the following meanings:

1. (1) APPEALS BOARD. The personnel appeals board created by the county commission and whose members are elected by the county commission.
2. (2) COUNTY. Montgomery County.
3. (3) COUNTY COMMISSION. The Montgomery County Commission.
4. (4) DEPARTMENT. The human resources department, a department of the county created to carry out all personnel and related matters as designated by the county commission.

5. (5) EMPLOYEE. Any individual who works for the county, a county officer, or a county agency in a classified or unclassified position whose salary is paid with funds paid by the county.

   1. a. Unclassified Employee. An employee who serves at the pleasure of the county commission, a county officer, or a county agency and who is not a participant in the merit based personnel system hereby established. The following are unclassified employees:

      1. 1. All unclassified employees of the county on January 1, 2025, in the employment of the county, a county officer, or a county agency.
      2. 2. Volunteer personnel who receive no compensation from the county.
      3. 3. Persons performing work under contract with the county and not carried on the payroll as employees.
      4. 4. A person whose employment is subject to the approval of the United States Government, the City or County of Montgomery, or the State of Alabama.
      5. 5. Temporary employees.
      6. 6. Other persons designated by the county commission who meet the intent of this section.
   2. b. Classified Employee. An employee who is assigned to an ongoing position authorized by a county officer or the county commission, whose salary is paid with funds paid by the county, and who may become a participant in the merit based personnel system established pursuant to this part following an initial probationary period.
6. (6) VACANCY. A position approved and funded by the county which is unoccupied or is being filled by a temporary employee.

(Act 2024-337, §12.)