HB440 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Steve McMillan

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Youth residential facilities that house children for a period of over 24 hours, inlcuding private religious or faith-based organizations, regulation and licensing by Human Resources Dept.

Summary

HB440 would require registration and oversight by the Alabama Department of Human Resources for religious, faith-based, and other private youth residential facilities that house children for more than 24 hours, with rules, background checks, and safety standards.

What This Bill Does

It creates the Alabama Youth Residential Facility Abuse Prevention Act and requires the Department of Human Resources to register facilities that house children for 24 hours or more, including private religious or faith-based groups and other nonprofit or for-profit programs. Facilities must meet minimum standards (ownership status, a written operation plan, 24-hour nonmedical care, age 12+ admission, 48-hour resident notification, 1 staff per 4 youths, licensed staff for mental health services, comprehensive health plans, and clear disciplinary practices) and cannot operate without current registration. The act also imposes background checks for all employees/volunteers, establishes a detailed fee schedule, requires quarterly inspections, enumerates youth rights, and provides enforcement mechanisms.

Who It Affects

• Children and youth housed or enrolled in these facilities will gain safety and health protections, defined rights, access to information, and a structured grievance process.
• Facility owners/operators and their staff/volunteers must register, pay fees, meet operating standards, pass background checks, undergo training, and accept ongoing inspections and reporting requirements.

Key Provisions

• Registration requirement starting January 1, 2018 for religious, faith-based, nonprofit, and for-profit youth residential facilities and related programs that house children over 24 hours.
• Minimum operation standards including ownership type, plan of operation, 24-hour nonmedical care, admission of children age 12+, 1:4 staff-to-youth ratio, licensed mental health staff, health plan, and prohibition of abusive or restrictive practices.
• Criminal background checks and child abuse/neglect clearances for all employees and volunteers, with annual renewals.
• Defined fee structure, including initial registration, annual renewals, address changes, changes in control, capacity adjustments, orientation, probation monitors, late fees, and plan-of-correction fees; revenues used to support health and safety supervision.
• Quarterly inspections by the department or designee; required reporting of enrollments, staff, plans, fire safety, immunizations, and insurance; youth rights are publicly posted and protected.
• Prohibitions and safety provisions, including no possession of firearms, requirements for liability insurance, fire clearance, and ensuring services provided by licensed professionals; explicit recognition of religious principles while maintaining safety and welfare standards.

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

Subjects

Licenses and Licensing