The following terms wherever used in this article shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them in this section, unless the context plainly indicates a contrary meaning:

(1) APPOINTING AUTHORITY. The officer, board, commission, person or group of persons having the power to make appointments to offices or positions of trust or employment in the state service.

(2) BOARD. The State Personnel Board.

(3) CLASSIFIED SERVICE. All offices or positions of trust or employment in the state service now or hereafter created except those placed in the unclassified service or exempt service by this article.

(4) DIRECTOR. The State Director of Personnel.

(5) EMPLOYMENT REGISTER. A record containing the names of those persons who have successfully competed in tests, have been ranked in order of their final earned average from highest to lowest and are considered qualified to hold a position in the class for which the test was held.

(6) INMATE HELP. Persons committed to a state institution who have been granted special privileges and employment due to good conduct.

(7) POSITION. Any office or place of employment in the state service.

(8) PUBLIC HEARING. A meeting of the board open to the public held after five days' public notice has been given thereof whereat any citizen, taxpayer or interested party may appear and be heard subject to such rules and regulations as may be fixed by the board.

(9) PUBLIC RECORD. A record which the public shall have the right to inspect in a reasonable manner during ordinary business hours.

(10) STATE SERVICE. All offices and positions of trust or employment in the service of the Alabama state government, irrespective of whether the remuneration or compensation of such offices and positions of trust or employment is paid out of the State Treasury or not. Such term shall not include offices and positions of trust or employment of the local governmental subdivisions, county or city boards of education, teachers and employees thereof or those exempted from this article.

(11) TEMPORARY APPOINTMENT. An appointment for a period not to exceed 104 work days.

(12) EMERGENCY APPOINTMENT. An appointment to serve in any position under emergency conditions for not more than 10 work days.

(13) EXCEPTIONAL APPOINTMENT. An appointment where extraordinary or unusual qualifications are required or where the peculiarities of the position are such as to make it inadvisable to attempt to fill it through open competitive examination.

(14) PROVISIONAL APPOINTMENT. An appointment made for a period of not more than 156 work days to fill a competitive position pending the establishment of an employment register for the classification.