The State of Alabama hereby accepts all of the provisions and benefits of an act passed by the United States Congress entitled "an act to provide for the promotion of vocational education, to provide for cooperation with the states in the promotion of vocational education, to provide for cooperation with the states in the promotion of such education in agriculture and the trades and industries, to provide for cooperation with the states in the preparation of teachers of vocational subjects and to appropriate money and regulate its expenditure," (20 U.S.C.A., §§11 through 28) approved February 23, 1917.

The Treasurer is hereby designated and appointed custodian of all moneys received by the state from the appropriations made by the act of Congress accepted in Section 16-37-1, and he is authorized to receive and to provide for the proper custody of the same and to make disbursements thereof in the manner provided in the act and for the purpose therein specified. He shall also pay out any moneys appropriated by the State of Alabama for the purpose of carrying out the provisions of this chapter upon the order of the State Board of Education.

The State Superintendent of Education shall designate, by and with the advice and consent of the State Board of Education, such assistants as may be necessary to properly carry out the provisions of this chapter. The State Superintendent of Education shall also carry into effect such rules and regulations as the State Board of Education may adopt and shall prepare such reports concerning the condition of vocational education in the state as the State Board of Education may require.

The State Board of Education shall have all necessary authority to cooperate with the federal Department of Health, Education and Welfare in the administration of the act of Congress accepted in Section 16-37-1; to administer any legislation pursuant thereto enacted by the State of Alabama and to administer the funds provided by the federal government and the State of Alabama, under the provisions of this chapter, for the promotion of vocational education in agricultural subjects, trade and industrial subjects and home economics subjects. It shall have full authority to formulate plans for the promotion of vocational education in such subjects as an essential and integral part of the public school system of education in the State of Alabama and to provide for the preparation of teachers of such subjects. It shall have authority to fix the compensation of such officials and assistants as may be necessary to administer the federal act and this chapter for the State of Alabama, and to pay such compensation and other necessary expenses of administration from funds appropriated in this chapter. It shall have authority to make studies and investigations relating to vocational education in such subjects; to promote and aid in the establishment by local communities of schools, departments or classes giving training in such subjects; to cooperate with local communities in the maintenance of such schools, departments or classes; to prescribe qualifications for the teachers, directors and supervisors of such subjects, and to have full authority to provide for the certification of such teachers, directors and supervisors; to cooperate in the maintenance of classes supported and controlled by the public for the preparation of teachers, directors and supervisors of such subjects or to maintain such classes under its own direction and control; to establish and determine by general regulations the qualifications to be possessed by persons engaged in the training of vocational teachers.

The board of education of any county or of any city having a city board of education may cooperate with the State Board of Education in the establishment of vocational schools or classes giving instructions in agricultural subjects, in trade or industrial subjects or in home economics subjects and may use any moneys raised by public taxation in the same manner as moneys for other school purposes are used for the maintenance and support of public schools.

The State Board of Education in its annual report to the Governor shall set forth the condition of vocational education in the State of Alabama, a list of the schools to which federal and state aid has been given and a detailed statement of the expenditures of federal and the state funds provided for the purposes of this chapter.

(a) County commissions of counties of Alabama are hereby authorized to make appropriations to county boards of education to be used in providing classrooms, laboratories and shops for use in teaching vocational subjects and for maintaining such vocational departments after they have been established; provided, that such appropriations may only be made for use in any school or schools duly recognized by the State Board of Education as centers for vocational instruction of the Smith-Hughes type, and on account of which reimbursement is being made or is to be made during the next fiscal school year following the first payment of county funds appropriated for such purposes.

(b) Funds so appropriated shall be paid to the county custodian of public school funds by the county treasurer on authorization of the county commission. The county custodian of public school funds shall pay out such funds on authorization of the county board of education.

(a) In order to further develop the human and natural resources of this state and to correlate and make available information and training in local communities for instruction in such subjects as mechanics, home economics, industrial, livestock, poultry, horticulture, farming and dairying, and to provide exhibits of an educational and cultural nature, and to provide for lectures, extension courses from the state universities and colleges or other sources, the various city or counties or cities and county boards of education are hereby authorized to create vocational high schools.

(b) Any city or county board of education, or any combinations of city or county boards of education are hereby authorized by agreement to jointly or severally contract for the erection, maintenance and operation of vocational high schools and to contract for the construction by each for such sums as said boards may agree for said erection, maintenance and operation. Any such contracts shall be subject to approval by the State Board of Education.

(c) The governing body of any city or county shall have the authority to contribute to the erection, maintenance and operation of any vocational high school created under the provisions of this section.

(d) The governing body of any such school shall be authorized to receive any gift or donation or any appropriation from any source, including federal, state, county or municipality, and to comply with the provisions of any federal or state law, rule or regulation in order to receive funds therefrom, and to contract or comply with any such law, rule or regulation in order to be entitled to receive any such funds.

(e) No tuition shall be charged to resident pupils of the areas of the cooperating boards of education.

(f) The agreement providing for the erection, maintenance and operation of any such vocational high school shall provide for a staff, together with provisions for its appointment, removal and its powers, duties and authority; provided, that the same shall not conflict with the provisions hereof, or with the laws regulating the operation of public schools in the State of Alabama. The said agreement shall also provide for an advisory board, composed of one or more members of each cooperating board of education selected by that board, together with its powers and duties.