Section 45-31-120.12 - Method of filling vacancies(a) Except as hereinafter provided, vacancies in positions in the classified service shall be filled by the appointing authority by the appointment of a person whose name is certified, within 30 days of certification. Certification shall be made upon request of the appointing authority therefor whenever a vacancy exists, and the appointing authority, in his or her discretion, determines that such vacancy shall be filled, and the name of an applicant for such vacancy is eligible for certification. Vacancies may be filled by promotion as follows: Selection by the department head from classified employees in the department or selection of the classified employee making the highest grade on a test given by the personnel board upon request of the department head or appointing authority. Vacancies not filled by promotion shall be filled from the eligibility list established by the personnel board for original employment. Upon request of the appointing authority, the personnel board shall certify to the appointing authority five names which rank highest on the employment eligibility list for the employee classification desired. Certification of the five highest ranked names on the employment list shall be made by the personnel board to the appointing authority, who shall make a final selection of the person to be appointed to fill such vacancy. If after making a reasonable effort, it should prove impossible for the appointing authority to locate any of the persons so certified or should it become known to the board that any person so certified is not willing to accept the position, the appointing authority may request that additional names be certified until the appointing authority has available to him or her a list from which to make the appointment containing the aforesaid authorized number of persons, all of whom are available for such appointment and willing to accept the position. In the event that the list certified to the appointing authority contains fewer than the authorized number of available and willing persons as aforesaid from which to make a selection, the appointing authority, in his or her discretion, may choose from the remaining certified names, make a temporary appointment, or make no appointment. In the event that there does not exist an employment list which the board deems to be appropriate from which to fill the vacancy, the board shall prepare a list within the reasonable time after receipt of the request of the appointing authority that eligibility be certified. Provided, however, nothing herein contained shall be construed as preventing an appointing authority, in his or her discretion, from withdrawing his or her request for the aforesaid certification, either before or after such certification has been made in response to his or her request therefor. Whenever a person has been certified to and rejected by an appointing authority three times, the board may remove the name of such person from the eligible list on which his or her name appeared. A person shall be deemed to have been so rejected by an appointing authority when a vacancy is filled from an eligible list on which his or her name appeared and such person was not selected to fill the vacancy.Ala. Code § 45-31-120.12 (1975)