(a) The board shall be authorized to:

(1) Make rules and regulations for the government of community and technical colleges.

(2) Prescribe for the community and technical colleges the courses of study to be offered and the conditions for granting certificates, diplomas, and degrees.

(3) Appoint or terminate the employment of the presidents of the community and technical colleges.

(4) Direct the expenditure of legislative appropriations of community and technical colleges including, but not limited to, the allocation of the annual legislative appropriation, as the board determines is in the best interests of the Alabama Community College System.

(5) Prescribe qualifications for faculty and establish, publish, and maintain an annual salary schedule for each community and technical college employee classification and tenure requirements for faculty at community and technical colleges.

(6) Accept gifts, donations, and devises and bequests of money and real and personal property for the benefit of community and technical colleges or any one of them.

(7) Establish a performance-based allocation process that is equitable and compatible with the services and programs offered by each individual campus.

(b) Any provision of law to the contrary notwithstanding, employees of the Alabama Community College System shall participate in the Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama pursuant to Chapter 25 and the State Employee's Health Insurance Plan pursuant to Chapter 29, Title 36. Employees of community and technical colleges shall participate in the Teachers' Retirement System of Alabama pursuant to Chapter 25 and the Public Education Employees' Health Insurance Plan pursuant to Chapter 25A or other qualified health plans established pursuant to Section 1311 of the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010.