HB57 Alabama 2013 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mary Sue McClurkinCity Council

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2013

Title

Abortion, physician involvement and admitting privileges at local hospital required, certain standard in treatment and care required, reporting of name of minor child to Human Resources Department and law enforcement under certain conditions, criminal penalties, Women's Health and Safety Act

Summary

HB57, the Women's Health and Safety Act, would require physician involvement in abortions, enforce strict care and facility standards at abortion centers, and add reporting and penalties to ensure safety.

What This Bill Does

It restricts abortion procedures to physicians and requires the physician to stay on site until patients are discharged, with discharge details provided to patients. It mandates life-safety and office-based surgery standards, hospital privileges for physicians, and regular plan reviews for centers. It requires nursing supervision by an RN and in-person examination before abortion-inducing drugs are prescribed or dispensed. It also imposes reporting requirements for minors seeking abortions, including potential reporting of the father's name to law enforcement and child-welfare authorities, and establishes criminal, licensure, and civil remedies for noncompliance.

Who It Affects

• Abortion or reproductive health centers and their administrators, who would face stricter staffing, supervision, facility, reporting, and licensure requirements and potential penalties for violations.
• Pregnant patients, including minors, and the relevant authorities (local law enforcement and the county Department of Human Resources), who would be affected by new physician involvement, patient discharge information, and the mandatory reporting of the father's name under certain conditions.

Key Provisions

• Only a physician may perform an abortion, and the physician must remain on the premises until all patients are discharged, with a discharge order and patient information provided.
• Physicians must have staff privileges at a nearby acute care hospital for treating abortion-related complications.
• Nursing care must be supervised by a licensed RN, with at least one RN on duty during all stages of the procedure and recovery.
• Abortion-inducing drugs may be prescribed or dispensed only by a physician who has personally examined the patient and documented gestational age and intrauterine location prior to administration.
• Abortion centers must meet NFPA 101 Life Safety Code standards; centers must submit plans within 180 days and obtain a certificate of completion within 12 months, with license revocation for noncompliance or failure to obtain the certificate.
• For minors under 16, the father’s name and age must be sought, and under certain age-difference conditions, those names must be reported to local law enforcement and the county DHR (and to the DHR if the minor is under 14).
• Noncompliance can result in criminal penalties for non-physician providers, possible felony charges for certain actions, and licensure actions or civil suits against providers and centers.

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

Subjects

Abortion