HB142 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Craig Ford

Independent

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Criminal procedure, law enforcement agencies, parental consent required to use minor as a confidential informant

Summary

HB142 would require parental consent to use anyone under 21 as a confidential informant, with a narrow exception for those aged 18–20 who follow advice of counsel.

What This Bill Does

The bill would prevent law enforcement from using a person under 21 as a confidential informant unless a parent or legal guardian provides written consent. It creates an exception for individuals aged 18–20 who may be used without parental consent if they act on the advice of counsel, but it does not guarantee publicly funded legal counsel. The bill also defines confidential informant terms and outlines the basic rules for how informants and related activities are handled.

Who It Affects

• Minors and young adults under 21 who could be used as confidential informants: subject to written parental consent, with an exception for 18–20-year-olds acting on counsel.
• Parents or legal guardians: responsible for giving written consent before their child under 21 can be used as a confidential informant (unless the 18–20 exception applies).
• Law enforcement agencies: must follow the parental consent requirement and consider the 18–20 exception and counsel advisory requirement when using informants.
• Attorneys or counsel: required to provide advice for the 18–20 exception to informant eligibility.
• Publicly funded legal counsel: the bill states there is no right to publicly funded counsel in this context.

Key Provisions

• General rule: no one under 21 may be used as a confidential informant without written consent from their parent or legal guardian.
• Exception: individuals who are 18–20 years old may be used as confidential informants without parental consent if they act upon the advice of counsel.
• The exception does not create a right to publicly funded legal counsel.
• Effective date: the act becomes law 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

Confidential Informant