SB23 Alabama 2016 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Clyde ChamblissSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2016

Title

Child abuse, crimes and offenses, aggravated child abuse of a child under age of six, penalties, Sec. 26-15-3.2 added

Summary

The bill creates a new crime of aggravated child abuse for children under six, with specific triggers and a Class A felony penalty.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new offense called aggravated child abuse of a child under six and outlines three ways it can be committed: abuse that violates existing child abuse law more than two times, abuse that also violates a court order, or abuse that results in serious physical injury. The crime targets a 'responsible person' as defined by existing law and carries a Class A felony punishment. It is considered a new crime for purposes of local funding rules and becomes law on the first day of the third month after becoming law.

Who It Affects

• A responsible person (as defined in §26-15-2) who has care or custody of a child under six and commits aggravated child abuse under the specified conditions.
• Children under the age of six who could be victims of aggravated child abuse under the new statute.

Key Provisions

• Adds new crime 26-15-3.3: aggravated child abuse of a child under the age of six.
• Three triggers for the crime: (a) more than two violations of §26-15-3; (b) violation of §26-15-3 plus a court order or injunction; (c) violation of §26-15-3 that causes serious physical injury (as defined in §13A-1-2).
• Penalty: Class A felony.
• Defines 'responsible person' as used in §26-15-2.
• Exempts the bill from Amendment 621 local-fund expenditure requirements because it creates a new crime.
• Effective date: first day of the third month after passage and governor's 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

Child Abuse