HB408 Alabama 2015 Session

Under existing law, certain persons, including health care professionals, who are responsible for rendering aid or medical assistance to a child must immediately report orally to law enforcement or the Department of Human Resources all known or suspected cases of child abuse or neglect.

This bill would specify that if a doctor or other health care professional suspects that a child is being or has been chemically endangered by being unlawfully exposed to a controlled substance, the doctor or health care professional must report his or her suspicion orally to law enforcement within two hours even if results of blood, urine, or other medical tests are not available to the doctor or health care professional within that time period.

This bill would also specify that if the results of medical testing later confirm the suspicion of chemical endangerment, the doctor or health care professional shall make a written report to the appropriate law enforcement agency.

To amend Section 26-14-3, Code of Alabama 1975; to provide for reporting by health care professionals of suspected cases of unlawful chemical endangerment of a child by exposure to an environment where controlled substances are produced or distributed.