Any county board, department, or agency responsible for the local administration of a program for a state board, department, or agency affiliated with the Employees' Retirement System on October 1, 1996, may provide the cost-of-living increase pursuant to this article to any retiree or beneficiary who retired prior to such entities participation in the Employees' Retirement System if the local administrative unit elects to fund the increase.
Ala. Code § 36-27-137 (1975)