(a) Any salary increase provided for state employees who are listed in the classified and unclassified service of the State of Alabama as defined in Section 36-26-10, whether provided for by legislative action, by action of the State Personnel Board, or by rules of the State Personnel Department, shall apply with equal force to all legislative personnel, officers, and employees, including, but not limited to, Legislative Reference Service personnel. Legislative personnel as herein referred to, who are employed on a full-time basis and such part-time employees with two or more years of continuous service, shall be entitled to the same number of annual increases as those provided for employees in the classified and unclassified service, and shall further be entitled to exceptional step raises as provided for by law or rules of the State Personnel Department and Merit System when approved by the appointing authority.
(b) The Director of the State Personnel Department shall revise the schedules of rates set forth in the pay plan for all employees covered under this section to reflect any increases provided for herein and shall certify the same to the state Comptroller, who shall issue warrants in accordance therewith.
(c) For purposes of pay and employment benefits, rights, and privileges, all personnel employed pursuant to this chapter, other than those persons employed on a temporary or part-time basis, shall be treated as other employees of the state.