(a) Notwithstanding any other laws, in addition to the existing Merit System positions in the office of the Attorney General, no later than 30 days after January 15, 1996, the Attorney General shall designate certain positions in his or her office as state Merit System positions and the individuals holding the positions on the date of designation, not to exceed 15 positions, shall become state Merit System employees on such date if he or she meets the minimum requirements for the position. The State Personnel Department shall determine the appropriate classification for each aforementioned employee. The classifications shall reflect a classification and pay that would result in his or her compensation being the same or higher than his or her current compensation. Each of these individuals shall have conferred upon them all the rights and benefits of any other member of the classified service in the state Merit System.

(b) Notwithstanding any other provisions of law, as to any person holding an unclassified state Merit System appointment under Act No. 91-736 in a currently budgeted position as a deputy attorney general or paralegal in any department or agency of the State of Alabama on January 15, 1996, after consulting with the director of the department or agency, the Attorney General shall designate the position in the department or agency as a classified state Merit System position and the individual holding the position shall become a state Merit System employee in the classification most appropriate to the job duties and current salary of the employee as determined by the State Personnel Department if he or she meets the minimum requirements for the position. The classification of each individual shall reflect a classification and pay which would result in his or her compensation being the same as his or her compensation on January 15, 1996 or at entry level of the classification, whichever is greater. The individuals classified under this subsection shall have conferred upon them all the rights and benefits of other employees in the classified service under the state Merit System.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this section, no position may be designated a classified state Merit System position pursuant to this section at a classification of Attorney IV, for attorney positions, or at higher than the second level classification for the positions for non-attorney positions.