The Legislature finds that private employers have provided their employees with flexible employee benefit plans which provide a savings both to the employer and the employee, and that the State of Alabama, its departments and agencies, may provide the same tax-effective benefits to its employees. It is, therefore, the intent of the Legislature to provide for the establishment of a "cafeteria plan" or flexible employee benefit plan in compliance with the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, with every effort being used to utilize the existing resources of the state Comptroller to implement said plan in conjunction with the Flexible Employees Benefits Board.
Ala. Code § 36-29-20 (1975)