HB122 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jack Williams

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Education, colleges and universities, boards of trustees required to develop policy, students under investigation criminal conduct, right to remain silent

Summary

HB 122 would require Alabama public colleges and universities to adopt and implement a policy informing students of their right to remain silent during investigations into potential criminal conduct.

What This Bill Does

If enacted, the boards must adopt a comprehensive policy by January 1, 2019 and begin implementing it for the 2020-2021 school year. The policy must tell students they have the right to remain silent and that silence will not be used to suggest guilt. It must address how school officials question students about potential criminal conduct in disciplinary proceedings. It must require that disciplinary adjudicators do not draw inferences from a student’s silence and must allow the student to have an attorney participate in hearings.

Who It Affects

• Students at public four-year colleges and universities and the Alabama Community College System, regarding disciplinary investigations and proceedings.
• School officials, disciplinary adjudicators, and attorneys representing students, who must apply and follow the policy and related guidelines.

Key Provisions

• By January 1, 2019, boards must adopt a comprehensive policy informing students of the right to remain silent and that silence will not be self-incriminating.
• Policy implementation begins with the 2020-2021 school year.
• Policy applies to school officials questioning students about potential criminal conduct subject to disciplinary proceedings.
• Guidelines require disciplinary adjudicators to not infer guilt from a student’s refusal to answer questions.
• Guidelines must allow a student to have an attorney actively participate in disciplinary hearings.

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

Subjects

Education