HB410 Alabama 2014 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: John Merrill
Republican
Co-Sponsor: Mike Ball
Session: Regular Session 2014
Title: Emergencies, broadcasters, radio, t.v., and cable, emergency response broadcasters, training and certification by Homeland Security Department, access to facilities to repair and restart broadcasting during emergencies
Summary: HB410 would allow broadcasters to certify emergency response engineers and grant them access to disaster areas to restore broadcasting and provide emergency information, with coordinated training and liability protections.
What This Bill Does
The bill lets radio/TV stations and cable operators be certified as emergency response engineers so they can work in affected areas to restore transmission and share emergency information. It creates training and certification programs coordinated with state emergency management groups. It permits credentialed personnel to access emergency zones for restoration work and allows production facilities to be used for emergency programming, while providing liability protections for government entities and personnel involved.

Who It Affects
Broadcasters and cable operators (and their employees) who may obtain emergency response engineer credentials and gain access to affected areas to restore broadcasting and provide emergency information.
State and local government agencies (including the Alabama Emergency Management Agency) that would develop credentialing plans, oversee training, grant access, and provide liability protections related to credentialed personnel.

Key Provisions
Defines terms: Broadcaster, Emergency, and Emergency Response Engineer.
Authorizes development of credentialing plans for emergency response engineers by broadcasters in cooperation with state emergency management and broadcaster associations.
Allows training and certification programs for emergency response engineers, ensuring alignment with federal law and focusing on restoring, repairing, and resupplying broadcasting facilities and on personal safety.
Allows credentialed emergency response engineers to temporarily access emergency areas to restore facilities or provide emergency programming, and allows access to production facilities for emergency programming; includes liability protections for government entities and personnel.
Clarifies that utility workers are not required to obtain these credentials and are not authorized under this act to access power generation or distribution facilities.
Effective immediately upon governor’s approval (or when it becomes law).

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