HB421 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Will AinsworthLt. Governor

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Prohibited contact between school employee and student, crime established, Sec. 13A-6-84 added

Summary

HB421 creates a new crime called prohibited contact between a school employee and a student and sets criminal penalties.

What This Bill Does

It makes certain kinds of contact between school staff and students illegal, including sexualized or intent-based communication and spying on privacy. The law covers both directions: school employees and students under 19 or IDEA-enrolled, with communications by phone, mail, social media, or other written/electronic forms. Penalties are a Class A misdemeanor for a first offense, with a Class C felony for second or subsequent offenses, and consent is not a defense. The bill is treated as a new crime for local funding rules and is exempt from local-government approval requirements; it becomes law after the governor signs and a set time delay.

Who It Affects

• School employees: could be charged with prohibited contact with students and face criminal penalties (Class A misdemeanor for first offense, Class C felony for subsequent offenses).
• Students under age 19 or IDEA-enrolled students: could be charged for unsolicited communication with school staff or for secretly surveilling staff, depending on the act.

Key Provisions

• Creates the crime of prohibited contact between a school employee and student.
• Specifies acts that constitute the crime, including inappropriate communication and invasive surveillance by either party.
• Defines terms 'reasonable expectation of privacy' and 'surveil' for the statute.
• Consent is not a defense; penalties include Class A misdemeanor for first offense and Class C felony for second or subsequent offenses.
• Exempts the bill from local-funds expenditure requirements under Amendment 621 and sets an effective date after 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

Schools