(a) Pursuant to Amendment 362 to the Constitution of Alabama of 1901, the coroner serving Lee County shall receive an annual salary of seventeen thousand eight hundred dollars ($17,800) on June 1, 2001.

(b) The annual salary of the chief deputy coroner shall be six thousand dollars ($6,000) on June 1, 2001.

(c) The annual salaries provided for in this section shall be paid in equal monthly installments from the county treasurer and shall be paid in lieu of any other salaries heretofore provided by law for the officials.

(d) The Lee County Commission may adjust the salaries, benefits, and any other compensation of the coroner and any deputy coroners by resolution.

(e) The Lee County Coroner shall be entitled to a vehicle allowance in an amount to be determined by the Lee County Commission. The vehicle allowance shall be in lieu of any expense allowance. The vehicle allowance shall be paid per annum in equal monthly installments from the general fund of the county treasury, which shall be in lieu of any and all expenses but in addition to any salary provided by law.

(f) The Lee County Coroner may appoint additional deputy coroners and other employees of the coroner’s office as needed. The coroner shall provide all salaries and expenses of additional deputy coroners and other employees of the coroner’s office. Any deputy coroner shall have the same qualifications as the coroner and shall serve under the supervision of the coroner and subject to the coroner’s procedures for conducting death investigations and shall otherwise carry out the duties of the office of coroner at the direction of the coroner. The deputy coroner may be dismissed from service by the coroner for violation of such procedures or acts of misconduct. Any deputy coroners or employees of the coroner’s office employed by the Lee County Coroner shall serve at the pleasure of the Lee County Coroner.

(g) The Lee County Coroner and any designated deputy coroners shall have the authority to certify any death occurring within the boundaries of the State of Alabama.

(h) The Lee County Commission shall furnish the county coroner with adequate office space, furniture, computers, books, stationery, postage, and all other supplies and services reasonably necessary for carrying out the duties and functions of the office of coroner.

(i) In Lee County, the coroner and the sheriff shall be entitled to the same cost-of-living increase percentage granted to other public officials pursuant to the Omnibus Pay Act. If an increase is due during the term of the coroner or the sheriff, the increase shall be in the form of an expense allowance, which will convert to salary effective the next term of office.