HB301 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Dickie Drake

Republican

Co-Sponsors

Alan BakerKen JohnsonJim CarnsBecky Nordgren

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Child abuse and neglect, mandatory reporting by education employees, postsecondary and higher education employees, and physical therapists included, protection of employees for reporting, criminal penalties, Sec. 26-14-3 am'd.

Summary

HB301 broadens mandatory reporting of child abuse to include physical therapists and college/university employees and adds protections against retaliation for reporters.

What This Bill Does

It adds physical therapists and employees of public and private colleges and universities to the list of people required to report known or suspected child abuse or neglect, and it reaffirms that public and private K-12 staff must report. It makes it unlawful for an employer to discipline or penalize an employee for reporting, a violation classified as a Class C misdemeanor. It specifies how reports should be made (oral immediately, then written), describes interagency coordination for investigations, and provides for expungement of records if no conviction; it becomes law on the date stated and is exempt from certain local-funding requirements because it creates a new crime.

Who It Affects

• Mandatory reporters: physical therapists and employees of public/private postsecondary and higher education institutions become required reporters of known or suspected child abuse or neglect (along with existing K-12 staff).
• Employers and reporting employees: public or private employers are prohibited from discharging, suspending, disciplining, or penalizing an employee solely for reporting suspected abuse; such retaliation is a Class C misdemeanor.

Key Provisions

• Adds physical therapists and employees of public/private colleges and universities to the mandatory reporters list; confirms K-12 staff must report.
• Prohibits employers from disciplining reporters for reporting; establishes Class C misdemeanor for retaliation.
• Outlines reporting procedure (oral/immediate report followed by written report) and requires coordination among law enforcement, the Department of Human Resources, and other agencies; implements expungement if no conviction.
• Effective date: first day of the third month after its passage and governor's approval; includes an amendment-note exempting the bill from certain local-funding requirements because it creates/changes a crime.

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

Subjects

Children