§ 8a-3-8

(a) Within the latter of ninety days or three scheduled meetings after the submission of the recommended comprehensive plan to the governing body, the governing body must act by either adopting, rejecting or amending the comprehensive plan.(b) If the comprehensive plan is adopted by the governing body, then the governing body may adopt the comprehensive plan as an ordinance or designate what other effect the comprehensive plan may have.(c) If the comprehensive plan is adopted by the governing body and an ordinance is published, the comprehensive plan may be incorporated by reference in the ordinance and the full text of the comprehensive plan does not have to be published.