HB216 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Mack N. ButlerRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Mandatory reporting of child abuse or neglect, firefighters required to report, Sec. 26-14-3 am'd.

Summary

HB216 would require paid and volunteer firefighters to report suspected child abuse or neglect, expanding mandatory reporting to include firefighters.

What This Bill Does

It adds firefighters to the list of professionals who must report suspected child abuse or neglect. Firefighters must report the suspected abuse immediately by oral communication (phone or direct contact) and then provide a written report to the appropriate authority. The reporting process involves the Department of Human Resources and law enforcement, with relevant reports shared and investigations recorded for the central registry. It also imposes penalties on employers who retaliate against employees for making a mandated report and sets an effective date after governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Paid and volunteer firefighters: must report suspected child abuse or neglect immediately and in writing.
• Public or private employers: could be charged with a Class C misdemeanor if they discharge, suspend, discipline, or penalize an employee solely for making a mandated report.

Key Provisions

• Adds paid and volunteer firefighters to the list of mandatory reporters under Section 26-14-3(a).
• Requires an immediate oral report (by telephone or direct communication) followed by a written report to a duly constituted authority.
• Outlines the flow of information between law enforcement and the Department of Human Resources, including sharing school and residential facility reports and entering investigation results into the central registry.
• Provides that if an investigation does not result in a conviction, the agency shall expunge the record of the information or report and any data developed from it.
• Keeps clergy exempt from reporting information gained solely in confidential communications as privileged, per Rule 505.
• Establishes a Class C misdemeanor for public or private employers who discharge, suspend, discipline, or penalize an employee solely for reporting suspected abuse or neglect.
• Ties the effective date to the first day of the third month following 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

Firefighters