(a)(1) There is hereby created the Department of Commerce within the office of the Governor and directly under his or her supervision and control. The Department of Commerce shall be headed by the Secretary of Commerce, who shall be a person possessed with extensive responsible experience in development of economic, human, and physical resources and promotion of industrial and commercial development. The secretary shall be appointed by the Governor and serve at his or her pleasure at a salary of any reasonable amount not to exceed by forty thousand dollars ($40,000) the highest authorized salary for employees of the Department of Commerce who are subject to the Merit System law. In fixing such salary, the Governor shall give due consideration of the salaries of comparable positions in other states and in private industry. All other employees necessary to carry out the duties and functions of the Department of Commerce shall be employed subject to the Merit System law. In addition to any other employees, there may be employed a total of eight assistant secretaries for the office, who shall not be subject to the Merit System law and whose compensation shall be determined by the secretary.

(2) The eight additional assistant secretaries shall be persons experienced in industrial and commercial development for at least the two years prior to their employment. Compensation for the eight additional assistant secretaries shall not exceed the amount of compensation paid for the highest classification of Merit System employees employed by the Department of Commerce.

(3) The makeup of the assistant secretaries shall be inclusive and should reflect the racial, gender, geographic, urban/rural, and economic diversity of the state.

(b) On the date determined pursuant to Section 41-29-6, , the Department of Commerce shall be comprised of the following divisions: The Business Development Division and the Workforce Development Division. Each division shall be headed by a deputy secretary who shall be appointed by the Secretary of Commerce outside of the classified service and who shall serve at the pleasure of the secretary at a salary of any reasonable amount not to exceed by ten thousand dollars ($10,000) the highest authorized salary for employees of the Department of Commerce who are subject to the Merit System law. The deputy secretary of each division shall report to the Secretary of Commerce.

(c) The Governor, through the Department of Commerce, shall encourage comprehensive and coordinated planning and programming of the affairs of state government.

All economic development functions as defined in subdvision (12) of Section 36-25-1 or otherwise engaged in by any employee, department, agency, or body corporate in the executive branch of the state shall be pre-approved by the Secretary of Commerce or the Governor.

(d) The Governor may direct any state department or other agency of state government directly under his or her control and supervision to furnish the Department of Commerce with such personnel, equipment, and services as are necessary to enable it to carry out its responsibilities and duties and prescribe the terms thereof, including reimbursement of costs thereof.

(e)(1) The Legislature finds and declares that the Alabama Community College System consists of comprehensive community and technical colleges and the Alabama Technology Network, an effective workforce development initiative. The Alabama Community College System provides a unified system of institutions delivering excellence in academic education, adult education, and workforce development initiatives that are responsive to industry needs for highly specialized training programs that help prepare entry level employees to meet growing demands.

(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of this chapter, the Alabama Community College System shall continue to provide a wide range of career-technical courses and short-term training for job-specific certifications.