SB216 Alabama 2013 Session

Updated Feb 25, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Greg J. Reed
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2013
Title: Home Medical Equipment Services Providers, Board of, name changed to Home Medical Equipment, Board of, duties revised, licensure and regulation, disciplinary hearings, administrative fines, injunctions, penalties, Secs. 34-14C-1, 34-14C-2, 34-14C-4, 34-14C-4.1, 34-14C-5, 34-14C-6, 34-14C-8 am'd.
Summary: SB216 would rename the Home Medical Equipment Services Providers Board to the Board of Home Medical Equipment, expand regulatory powers, and set licensing, discipline, and enforcement rules for home medical equipment providers.
What This Bill Does
It changes the board's name and lets it hire an administrator and staff, adopt a seal, and charge fees. It prohibits practicing home medical equipment services without a license and creates processes for late renewals and renewing lapsed licenses. It gives the board power to deny, revoke, or suspend licenses and to hold disciplinary hearings, impose fines, issue injunctions, and apply other penalties for violators. It also adds detailed licensing, inspection, and sunset requirements.

Who It Affects
Home medical equipment services providers and entities that operate in Alabama (they would need licenses, may be inspected, and could face penalties for noncompliance).
Consumers and patients who receive home medical equipment services (they would gain increased regulatory oversight and potential protections from licensed, inspected providers).

Key Provisions
Rename the licensing board to the Board of Home Medical Equipment and authorize it to hire an administrator and staff, adopt a seal, and set reasonable fees.
Prohibit unlicensed practice and establish processes for license renewal, late renewal, and renewal of a lapsed license; require display of license certificates at licensed locations.
Allow the board to deny, suspend, or revoke licenses, conduct disciplinary hearings, and impose administrative fines, injunctions, and other penalties for violations.
Define key terms (Board; Home Medical Equipment; Home Medical Equipment Services; Home Medical Equipment Services Provider) and outline licensing standards, including for out-of-state providers.
Set licensing procedures: annual licenses, location-specific licenses, application requirements, fees, and grace periods; provision for provisional licenses if initial compliance is not met.
authorize inspections before licensure, during renewal, and for cause; establish inspection standards and allow out-of-state inspections with travel reimbursement by applicants.
List grounds for disciplinary action (e.g., violations of the chapter or rules, misrepresentation, fraud, gross negligence, unethical conduct, failure to cooperate with inspections, etc.).
Penalties include license denial/suspension/revocation, restitution to consumers, and monetary penalties; unauthorized practice can result in fines up to $1,000 per day and possible injunctions.
Board would be subject to the Alabama Sunset Law, with periodic termination and reauthorization requirements; the act specifies its effective date after approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 25, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.
Subjects: Home Medical Equipment Services Providers, Board of