Upon the acquisition of the Perry County Facility by the Alabama Corrections Institution Finance Authority, as provided in Chapter 2, the Department of Corrections shall employ all otherwise eligible employees below the rank of captain, through provisional appointments, persons who were employees of the Perry County Facility at the time of acquisition as the department deems necessary and appropriate. All subsequent appointments and employment of persons shall be pursuant to the Merit System Act of Alabama.
Ala. Code § 14-1-4.1 (1975)