HB437 Alabama 2014 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2014

Title

Hospitals, infants, pertussis information, required to provide information to new mothers

Summary

The bill requires hospitals to give new parents educational information about pertussis (whooping cough) and vaccination options before a newborn leaves the hospital.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the Department of Public Health must create and keep updated pertussis educational materials (including vaccine recommendations) and make them printable and available online. Hospitals must provide this information to a parent during the postpartum period before discharge. The bill does not require vaccination or payment for vaccination, and it includes a liability shield for providers related to this information, while not altering existing medical liability laws. The act becomes effective six months after it becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Parents of newborn infants, who will receive pertussis information before leaving the hospital.
• Hospitals and other healthcare providers, who must distribute the information and receive immunity related to disseminating the approved materials.

Key Provisions

• The Department of Public Health must develop educational information on pertussis and vaccine availability, include current CDC vaccine recommendations, update materials regularly, and post them online in a printable form.
• Hospitals must provide the department-created educational information to the parent during the postpartum period before discharge of the newborn.
• The bill does not require hospitals to provide or pay for pertussis vaccination.
• Physicians and hospitals receive immunity from civil and criminal liability for claims directly related to the information produced by the Department of Public Health and disseminated under this act.
• The act does not create a new standard of care or modify existing medical liability laws beyond the immunity described.
• The act becomes effective on the first day of the sixth month after its passage and approval.

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

Subjects

Hospitals