(a) There is created the Houston County Work Release and Pretrial Release Commission, hereinafter called the commission. The commission shall be composed of seven persons, including the following: The Sheriff of Houston County, the District Attorney of the Twentieth Judicial Circuit, the presiding judge of the circuit, the presiding district court judge, one associate district court judge appointed by the presiding district court judge, the Chair of the Houston County Commission or another Houston County Commissioner appointed by the chair, and the Clerk of the Circuit Court of Houston County. The chair of the commission shall be elected by the commission from among its membership annually at its first meeting of each calendar year.

(b) The commission shall implement this subpart and generally supervise and administer the functions pursuant to this subpart, subject to the duly promulgated rules of court. The commission shall not direct any judicial officer in the exercise of his or her judicial functions. The commission may employ, direct, supervise, and dismiss personnel, except judicial officers, to implement this subpart.

(c) The commission shall make a continuing study of all activities conducted pursuant to this subpart and shall recommend to the Legislature any changes in the law which it deems to be appropriate to implement and facilitate the purposes of this subpart.

(d) An agreement for the merger of the work release program provided for by this subpart, with any similar program operated by the Department of Corrections or any other department, agency, or bureau of the State of Alabama shall not be effective without the approval of the commission and, unless approved by such commission, shall be of no force and effect.

(e) The commission may issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses before the commission.

(f) The commission is designated as the agency to apply for, receive, and administer any grants of funds to be used to carry out this subpart from the United States Government, or any of its agencies, the State of Alabama, or any of its agencies, or a private or quasi-governmental foundation, corporation, firm, or agency. All funds received to the account of the commission shall be deposited to the fund established by Section 45–35–232.33 and shall be disbursed by the Houston County Commission upon vouchers submitted by the Houston County Work Release and Pretrial Release Commission.

(g) The commission shall make its own rules for conducting its affairs. All meetings of the commission shall be in the Houston County Courthouse and shall be held at the call of the duly elected chair. The chair shall call a meeting of the commission upon request in writing of any three members of the commission.