HB174 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Hospitals, mailing of directory listing by Public Health Dept., eliminated, Sec. 22-21-33 am'd.

Summary

HB174 would end the Department of Public Health's quarterly mailed directory of all licensed hospitals.

What This Bill Does

The bill would remove the requirement to publish and mail the hospital directory every three months to licensed inpatient hospitals, hospices, and certified home health agencies. It would require the Department to maintain a current electronic directory online, with the licensure status of all licensed hospitals available in a searchable database for the prior four years plus the current year. It keeps enforcement provisions against operating unlicensed hospitals (with associated penalties) and directs civil penalties to a fund for protected persons’ placement or relocation. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Licensed inpatient hospitals, licensed hospices, and certified home health agencies: they would no longer receive a quarterly mailed directory and would rely on the online, searchable directory to verify licensure status.
• Operators of hospitals (including unlicensed facilities) and patients/protected persons: enforcement provisions, penalties for operating unlicensed facilities, and relocation assistance funded by penalties would affect their actions and protections.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 22-21-33 to eliminate the requirement that the Department publish and mail a quarterly directory of all licensed hospitals to licensed inpatient hospitals, licensed hospices, and certified home health agencies.
• Requires the Department of Public Health to maintain a current electronic directory of all licensed hospitals, available on the Internet, with the directory maintained as a searchable database showing licensure status for the preceding four years and the current year.
• Preserves and details enforcement mechanisms for unlicensed hospitals, including injunctions, court processes, and penalties for knowingly operating or referring to unlicensed facilities.
• Imposes civil penalties up to $1,500 per instance for certain actions involving unlicensed hospitals, with penalties collected deposited into a dedicated Department of Human Resources fund to assist protected persons with placement or relocation.
• Effective date: the act becomes law on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 24, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Hospitals