HB50 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Juandalynn GivanRepresentative

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Sexually transmitted diseases, increased criminal penalties for transmittal of or exposure to, Sec. 22-11A-21 am'd.

Summary

HB50 would make knowingly transmitting a sexually transmitted disease a Class C felony and tighten who can treat or sell cures for STDs.

What This Bill Does

It increases the penalty for knowingly transmitting or risking transmission of an STD from a Class C misdemeanor to a Class C felony. It also restricts treatment and prescription for STDs to licensed physicians, making non-physician providers liable for a misdemeanor if they treat or prescribe for someone with an STD, and it prohibits selling certain cures without a physician’s written prescription. The bill also notes local funding implications and would take effect on the date specified after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• People with sexually transmitted diseases and their partners or others who may be exposed, who could be charged with a felony if they knowingly transmit or risk transmitting the disease.
• Health care providers who are not licensed physicians (e.g., non-physician clinicians) and pharmacists/sellers who would be restricted from treating, prescribing, or selling cures for STDs without physician authorization.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 22-11A-21 to make knowingly transmitting or risking transmission of an STD a Class C felony (previously a misdemeanor).
• Adds that non-physician individuals who treat or prescribe for someone with an STD, and pharmacists or others who sell cures or treatments for STDs without a written prescription from a licensed physician, commit Class C misdemeanors.
• Overall, the bill broadens who can be charged under the statute and tightens penalties for transmission of STDs.
• Although the bill is described as having a local-funding impact under Amendment 621, it is exempt from local approval requirements due to specified exceptions, and the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor 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

Health