HB372 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Co-Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Health care workers, infected health care workers, add Hepatitis C infection to definition of, Secs. 22-11A-60, 22-11A-61, 22-11A-62, 22-11A-63, 22-11A-66, 22-11A-67, 22-11A-73 am'd.

Summary

HB372 adds hepatitis C to the definition of infected health care workers and lets the Board of Health add other diseases to the reporting list by rule.

What This Bill Does

If passed, it widens who is considered an infected health care worker to include hepatitis C, requiring reporting to the State Health Officer. It also lets the State Board of Health designate additional diseases that must be reported. The bill preserves investigation and potential restriction processes for infected workers who perform invasive procedures, including expert review panels and final orders, with an appeals option. It also addresses licensing actions, record access, and insurers' reporting limitations.

Who It Affects

• Health care workers infected with hepatitis C (and any other diseases designated by the Board) who would have reporting, investigation, and potential practice restrictions or licensing consequences.
• Health care facilities, licensing boards, and related institutions that employ or oversee infected workers, which must cooperate with investigations, implement orders, and provide requested records.

Key Provisions

• Expands the infected health care worker definition to include hepatitis C infection and authorizes the Board of Health to designate by rule additional diseases to be reported to the State Health Officer.
• Infected health care workers who perform invasive procedures must notify the State Health Officer; physicians caring for such workers must also report.
• The State Health Officer must investigate the infected worker and may form an expert review panel for those who perform invasive procedures; panels may recommend practice restrictions to protect patients.
• Final orders from the State Health Officer can impose restrictions or conditions on the worker's practice and can be appealed to the State Committee of Public Health in executive session.
• Licensing actions (revocation, suspension, or restriction) can be taken if an infected worker violates the article.
• Facilities and others must provide records to the Board and the expert panel, with time limits for certain records (generally within three years).
• Insurers are not newly required to report infections discovered through underwriting or claims processes, and insurers may not verify a person’s status as a health care worker through those processes.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Hepatitis