(a) Commencing on October 1, 2012, the terms junior college, trade school, community college, and technical college, or any combination of these terms, as used in the Code of Alabama 1975, may not be interpreted to include Athens State University or its predecessor, Athens State College. After October 1, 2012, the Code Commissioner may revise any reference to Athens State University that refers to or classifies the university as a junior college, trade school, community college, or technical college.
(b) In addition to the duties of the Code Commissioner provided in subsection (a), whenever any section of the Code of Alabama 1975, refers to a "four-year public institution of higher education," the Code Commissioner is directed to make the appropriate changes in terminology to reflect the reconstituted status of Athens State University as a public institution of higher education under a separate board of trustees as provided by this chapter.