HB443 Alabama 2017 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2017

Title

Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act, requiring physicians and health care professionals to report certain types of injuries and illnesses to police or appropriate law enforcement authorities

Summary

HB443 would require doctors and health care facilities to report certain violent injuries to police and would protect reporters from liability if they report in good faith.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates the Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act. It requires physicians, health care professionals, health care facility directors or administrators, or their designees to report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities when treating patients with specific injuries or illnesses that may come from violence. Reports must include basic information about the patient and the injury, and reporters acting in good faith are immune from civil or criminal liability. The act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Physicians, other health care professionals, health care facility directors/administrators, or their designees who would be required to file the reports.
• Patients with gunshot wounds, powder burns, firearm-related injuries, poisoning illnesses, knife or sharp instrument injuries, or other injuries appearing to result from criminal violence; their treatment triggers a mandatory report to law enforcement.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act.
• Requires reporting by specified health care personnel or designees to the appropriate law enforcement authorities for certain gunshot/ firearm-related injuries, poisoning illnesses, and knife/sharp instrument injuries that appear to result from a criminal act of violence.
• Mandates what must be reported: patient name, age, sex, race (if known), residential address or current location, and the nature and extent of the injury or illness.
• Provides civil and criminal immunity for reporters acting in good faith when making the report.
• Sets the effective date as 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

Health Care Providers