(1) In addition to the salary provided in Section 25-3-33, any appointive state and district official and employee provided therein shall receive the award of an education benchmark as defined in State Personnel Board rules for the possession or attainment of any of the following:
(a) The Certified Public Manager designation;
(b) A job-related Ph.D (Doctor of Philosophy) degree which is not required as a minimum qualification of the position;
(c) A job related certification, licensure, or registration requiring the passage of an examination, which is not required as a minimum qualification of the position.
(2) No such official or employee may receive more than a total of three (3) eligible benchmarks, only one of which may be for a job related certification, licensure or registration.
(3) The State Personnel Board shall promulgate rules and regulations to carry out the provisions of this section.