SB96 Alabama 2017 Session

Updated Feb 27, 2026

Low Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Bill Holtzclaw
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2017
Title: Child abuse and neglect, mandatory reporting requirements, Human Resources Dept. to determine military status of parent or guardian and notify Department of Defense family advocacy program, Sec. 26-14-3 am'd.
Summary: The bill requires the Department of Human Resources to check whether a child's parent or guardian is in the military and, if so, notify the DoD Family Advocacy Program when an abuse/neglect investigation is underway.
What This Bill Does
It adds a step to the current child abuse reporting process: DHRS must determine military status of the involved parent/guardian as soon as practicable after a report. If the parent/guardian is in the military, DHRS must notify the DoD Family Advocacy Program at the relevant installation about the investigation. The bill keeps existing reporting and coordination requirements with law enforcement and DHRS in place and makes the act effective immediately after governor approval.

Who It Affects
Children who are suspected or confirmed victims of child abuse or neglect, whose cases will trigger a determination of their parent/guardian's military status.
Military families (parents or guardians in the military) and DoD Family Advocacy Programs, who will be notified when an abuse/neglect investigation involves a military-connected parent or guardian.

Key Provisions
DHRS must make efforts to determine the military status of the parent or guardian of a child subject to an abuse/neglect allegation.
If the parent or guardian is in the military, DHRS must notify the DoD Family Advocacy Program at the military installation about the ongoing investigation.
The act clarifies and integrates these steps into the existing mandatory reporting framework for child abuse and neglect, including the flow of information to law enforcement and central registry, and states the act becomes effective immediately upon 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: Human Resources Department