HB525 Alabama 2012 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Joseph C. Mitchell

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2012

Title

Hospitals or health care facilities, inspection date or time, disclosure in advance by county health department employee or any agent of state or county prohibited, penalties, Sec. 22-21-29 am'd.

Summary

Prohibits advance disclosure of hospital inspection dates or times by health department officials and imposes criminal penalties for violations.

What This Bill Does

It would bar employees or contract workers of county health departments and other state or local agents from telling anyone the date or time of hospital or health facility inspections in advance if the recipient has a financial interest or is connected to the facility (staff, consultants, contractors, or relatives). Violations would be Class A misdemeanors for the discloser and for anyone who solicits or passes along the information. The bill broadens what counts as an inspection to include routine checks, surveys, complaint investigations, and follow-ups, while allowing certain exceptions for public health or safety reasons or where federal law requires disclosure; regular, predictable scheduling would not violate the rule. It also notes the bill creates a new crime and is exempt from the local-funds expenditure rules in Amendment 621.

Who It Affects

• State and county health department employees or agents: prohibited from disclosing advance inspection dates/times; face Class A misdemeanor penalties for violations.
• People with a financial interest in licensed health care facilities and the facilities' employees, agents, consultants, contractors, and their relatives: cannot receive advance disclosure of inspection dates/times.
• Hospitals and health care facilities licensed under the article: subject to unannounced inspections in most cases, with limited advance scheduling allowed before licensure.
• Federal and state oversight programs conducting inspections: disclosures may occur if required by federal law or if public health/safety considerations justify advance disclosure.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits advance disclosure of inspection dates/times by state/county health department employees or agents to specified groups (financially interested individuals, facility staff/agents/contractors, and their relatives).
• Broadly defines 'inspection' to include periodic/compliance inspections, surveys, complaint investigations, and follow-ups conducted by the State Board of Health or related federal programs.
• Permits exceptions where advance disclosure is reasonable for public health or safety, or required by federal law/regulation; allows scheduling of inspections at regular intervals without violating the rule.
• Imposes Class A misdemeanor penalties on violators and on those who solicit or transmit advance disclosure to others.
• Declares that the bill creates a new crime and is exempt from the local-funds expenditure requirements of Amendment 621.
• Effective date: the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses