SB272 Alabama 2015 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Larry StuttsSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2015

Title

Sex crimes, sexual misconduct, lack of consent required, crimes of rape in the 3rd degree, sodomy in the 3rd degree and sexual abuse in 3rd degree created to address circumstances where both parties are below age of consent, Secs. 13A-6-65, 13A-6-70, 15-20A-5, 15-20A-6 am'd.

Summary

SB272 overhauls Alabama sex-crime laws by requiring lack of consent (or fraud) for certain acts and creating third-degree crimes when the offender is under 16 and the victim under 12, with these offenses added to the sex-offender registry.

What This Bill Does

It changes the sexual misconduct standard to require lack of consent or consent obtained by fraud or artifice. It creates rape in the third degree, sodomy in the third degree, and sexual abuse in the third degree for cases where the offender is under 16 and the victim is under 12, all as Class A misdemeanors. It adds these new crimes to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act list of sex offenses. It also provides for a juvenile exemption in certain cases and notes the local-funding implications under the constitutional amendment, with an effective date on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Juvenile offenders under 16 who commit acts against victims under 12, who would face new third-degree offenses and potential reporting/registration requirements for sex offenses.
• Individuals convicted of these offenses (sex offenders) and the agencies involved in sex-offender registration and notification, since the offenses would be added to the SORNA list.

Key Provisions

• Amends sexual misconduct to require lack of consent or consent obtained by fraud or artifice.
• Creates rape in the third degree, sodomy in the third degree, and sexual abuse in the third degree for perpetrators under 16 against victims under 12 (Class A misdemeanor).
• Adds the new third-degree offenses to the Sex Offender Registration and Notification Act as sex offenses.
• Allows for possible juvenile exemptions from registration in certain cases involving sexual abuse in the third degree.
• Notes that the bill has local-funding implications under Amendment 621 but is exempt from the usual 2/3 voting requirement because it defines new or amended crimes.
• Effective date is the first day of the third month after the bill is passed and signed into 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

Sex Crimes