HB354 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Health care providers authorized to decline to perform services that violate their consciences, exceptions, Health Care Rights of Conscience Act

Summary

HB354 creates a Health Care Rights of Conscience Act that lets health care providers refuse to perform services that violate their conscience and protects them from liability, with anti-discrimination protections and remedies for violations.

What This Bill Does

The bill allows providers to refuse to perform or participate in health care services that violate their conscience if they object in writing before being asked. It provides immunity from civil, criminal, or administrative liability for such refusals, except when not refusing would immediately endanger a patient’s life. It prohibits discrimination against providers who decline to participate and allows injunctive relief and back pay if those rights are violated. It defines key terms, lists covered services (abortion, cloning, embryonic stem cell research, sterilization), and includes education protections and certain statutory exclusions.

Who It Affects

• Health care providers (doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and other professionals) who object in writing and want to refuse to perform or participate in specified health care services.
• Health care institutions, employers, boards/credentialing bodies, and education programs that must not discriminate against objecting providers and may face remedies if violations occur.

Key Provisions

• Right to object in writing and not be required to participate in a health care service that violates conscience (Section 4(a)).
• Immunity from civil, criminal, or administrative liability for refusals, with an exception if failing to refuse would immediately endanger a patient’s life (Section 4(b)).
• Discrimination against objecting providers is unlawful; remedies include injunctive relief and back pay (Section 4(d) and Section 5).
• Definitions of key terms: conscience, health care service, object in writing, participate (Section 3).
• Covered health care services include abortion, human cloning, human embryonic stem cell research, sterilization, and related actions (Section 3).
• Education provision protecting students from penalties for holding certain positions on these services (Section 4(d)).
• Exclusions: does not apply to abortion clinics licensed by the State Board of Health and does not modify certain abortion-related statutes (Sections 6-7).
• Effective date: act becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor signature (Section 9).
• Severability clause ensuring parts can operate independently if some parts are invalid (Section 8).

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

Subjects

Health Care Providers