Ala. Code § 45-20-71.17

The president pro tempore of the board shall be and is hereby authorized and empowered, except as otherwise provided herein for the regular president, to perform all the duties imposed by law upon the regular president of the board, but only during the absence of the regular president, whatever the cause of such absence. Also he or she shall perform all such duties and those imposed on the regular president whenever a vacancy occurs and until such vacancy is filled.