(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (b) of this section and prior to July 15 of every year, the Board of Directors of the Alabama State Fair Authority shall adopt and forward, by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, to the chairman of the commission a plan in quintuplicate which shall contain rules and regulations governing the distribution of the premium or prize money between the different component parts of the exhibitions and governing the means and methods for making the awards or giving the prizes or premiums for the exhibits to be held that year at the annual fair conducted by said Alabama State Fair Authority. Said plan shall state the date on which the said fair shall open and close that year. The plan submitted by the Alabama State Fair Authority to the commission and approved by the commission may provide for the distribution of premiums, rewards or prizes in excess of the annual appropriation. Any premiums, rewards or prizes in excess of the annual appropriation shall not be paid for with or out of funds appropriated to the commission. The approval by the commission of a plan providing for the distribution of premiums, rewards or prizes in excess of the annual appropriation shall be in contemplation of the Alabama State Fair Authority supplying prize or premium money in excess of the annual appropriation, and any such approval shall not authorize the payment under this article of any sum for premiums, rewards or prizes in excess of the annual appropriation. Within 60 days from the date on which the chairman of the commission receives the plan, the commission shall make such changes in the plan as said commission may see fit and, by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, shall return to the Alabama State Fair Authority in triplicate said plan, together with any modifications or changes made therein by the commission.

(b) In the event an appropriation to the commission is made subsequent to July 15 of any year, the board of directors of the Alabama State Fair Authority, in the manner provided in subsection (a) of this section, shall submit to the chairman of the commission the plan for that year within 30 days from the date on which the act making said appropriation is adopted. Within 30 days from the date on which the chairman of the commission receives any plan under this subsection, the commission shall make such changes in the plan as the said commission may see fit and, by United States registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, shall return to the Alabama State Fair Authority in triplicate the said plan, together with any modifications or changes made therein by the commission.

(c) During each year the funds appropriated to the commission and used under this article shall be distributed by the Alabama State Fair Authority in accordance with the plan prepared by the Alabama State Fair Authority as said plan is modified by the commission; provided, that unless the commission returns said plan with any changes therein made by it to the Alabama State Fair Authority within the time provided in subsection (b) of this section, the premium money shall be awarded in accordance with the plan theretofore adopted by the board of directors of the Alabama State Fair Authority and forwarded to the chairman of the commission.