SB481 Alabama 2010 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Larry MeansMayor

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2010

Title

Medical Examiners, State Board of, and Medical Licensure Commission, licensure hearings, attorney fees, assessment standard for violations, altered, Secs. 34-24-380, 34-24-381 am'd.

Summary

SB481 lets Alabama medical boards charge fines and recover costs from licensees who violate rules, and expands disciplinary tools for the boards.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends the sections governing penalties to allow the State Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission to impose administrative fines up to $10,000 per violation and to require violators to pay the costs and expenses of proceedings, including attorney and expert fees. It also clarifies that these costs are payable and enforceable like administrative fines, and it sets the appeal path for suspension or revocation orders. Additionally, the bill authorizes reprimands, censures, and license restrictions, with similar cost-recovery provisions applied to the Commission.

Who It Affects

• Physicians or osteopaths who violate board rules: may face fines up to $10,000 per violation and be required to pay the board's costs and expenses (including attorney and expert fees, deposition costs, and travel), with potential disciplinary actions such as reprimands, censures, or license restrictions.
• The State Board of Medical Examiners and the Medical Licensure Commission: gain explicit authority to assess fines, order cost recovery for proceedings, impose disciplinary actions, and direct how costs are handled and enforced.

Key Provisions

• 34-24-380(a): Board may assess administrative fines up to $10,000 for each violation of Section 20-2-54 or board rules.
• 34-24-380(b): Board may require the violator to pay the costs, fees, and expenses of proceedings, including independent medical review, expert testimony, outside counsel fees, attorney fees, deposition costs, travel expenses for staff, documentary evidence, and other board-prescribed expenses; payment enforced like an administrative fine.
• 34-24-380(c): Appeals of board suspension/revocation orders must be filed in the Alabama Court of Civil Appeals.
• 34-24-381(a): Medical Licensure Commission may assess administrative fines up to $10,000 per violation of Section 34-24-360 or commission rules and may issue reprimands, censures, or impose involuntary license restrictions.
• 34-24-381(b): Commission may require violators to pay the costs and expenses of proceedings before the commission, with costs described similarly to those in 34-24-380 and enforceable like administrative fines.
• Section 2: The act becomes effective immediately following passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Medical Examiners, State Board of