(a) The Director of the Alabama Department of Public Safety shall employ the necessary state Capitol police officers, subject to the state Merit System laws, to preserve order, to prevent and investigate crime, and protect and save from injury persons and property at the Capitol and all state buildings occupied by the state departments and agencies within the State of Alabama. The director shall prescribe the duties and responsibilities of the state Capitol police officers. All officers employed as state Capitol police officers shall meet the certification requirements as established by the Alabama Peace Officers' Standards and Training Commission prior to being granted permanent employment status.

(b) Upon September 1, 2003, all state Capitol police officers and employees shall be transferred to the Alabama Department of Public Safety. Sworn officers transferred in accordance with this section shall remain in their current Merit System classification, unless later altered or amended by the State Personnel Board. The Director of the Department of Finance shall cause to be transferred to the Department of Public Safety, the annual funding appropriation and budget for the state Capitol police officers and all individual and organizational equipment, uniforms, vehicles, and other property currently utilized by the state Capitol police officers. The Director of Finance and the Director of Public Safety may enter into an interagency agreement to facilitate this transfer of employees and property.

(c) Upon September 1, 2003, the classification of State Capitol Police Chief shall be transferred to the Department of Public Safety with no loss of pay or benefits, to be assigned duties as the Director of Public Safety or his or her designee shall designate.

(d) State Capitol police officers, when duly appointed, shall have the powers of peace officers in this state and may exercise such powers anywhere within the state.

(e) Any reference to the state Capitol police officers under the Department of Finance shall henceforth be considered as the state Capitol police under the Department of Public Safety.