HB138 Alabama 2011 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jay Love

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Jamie IsonMary Sue McClurkin

Session

Regular Session 2011

Title

Pregnant women, umbilical cord blood, education regarding the potential benefits of donations, storage, and use, Umbilical Cord Blood Use Act

Summary

HB138 would create the Umbilical Cord Blood Use Act to educate pregnant women about cord blood, its potential benefits, and options to store or donate it, and require providers to inform and assist with banking or donation when appropriate.

What This Bill Does

Establishes the Umbilical Cord Blood Use Act, defines key terms like banking, donating, health care facility, health care provider, and umbilical cord blood. Requires health care providers to advise pregnant women in the last trimester about possible medical uses of cord blood and options for banking or donating, and to provide information through Department publications or a website. Task the Department of Public Health with preparing and distributing educational materials about collection processes, risks, uses, costs, ownership, and availability of banks or donations. Allows a pregnant woman to arrange banking or donating during delivery if medically appropriate, while permitting providers to decline if it would threaten health or if it conflicts with religious beliefs; clarifies this does not create a new medical standard of care.

Who It Affects

• Pregnant women and their families, who would receive education and have the option to bank or donate umbilical cord blood.
• Health care facilities and health care providers, who must inform and, when possible, facilitate banking or donation while considering medical judgment and religious beliefs.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Umbilical Cord Blood Use Act and defines terms including banking, donating, health care facility, health care provider, and umbilical cord blood.
• During the last trimester, health care providers must inform patients about cord blood uses and banking/donation options and provide information via Department resources.
• The Department of Public Health must by January 1 after the act’s effective date prepare and electronically distribute to providers materials covering collection processes, risks, current and future uses, costs, ownership, availability of banks/donations, and resources.
• Permits a woman to arrange cord blood banking or donation during delivery if medically appropriate; allows refusal if it would threaten health or conflict with religious beliefs; states no obligation to meet every request or to create a new standard of care; requires disclosure if a facility declines.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Women