(a) Notwithstanding any limitations of law pertaining to the municipality, the mayor of any municipality in Alabama is hereby authorized, subject to budget restraints approved by the governing body, to make cash or non-cash awards not to exceed $1,000 to employees of the municipality in recognition of exemplary performance or for innovations that significantly reduce costs or result in outstanding improvements in services to the public.
(b) Any employee selected to receive a cash or non-cash award for exemplary performance or for innovations that significantly reduce costs must first be recommended by his or her supervisor and approved by the governing body of the municipality.
(c) Nothing in this section shall affect any program in existence on September 22, 1997.