HB196 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris PringleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Crimes and offenses, manslaughter, death resulting from unlawful sale of a controlled substance, Sec. 13A-6-3 am'd.

Summary

HB 196 would make it manslaughter when a person sells or distributes a controlled substance and someone dies from using it.

What This Bill Does

It adds a new provision to Section 13A-6-3: if someone sells or distributes a controlled substance in violation of the law and the user dies as a proximate result, the seller is guilty of manslaughter. Manslaughter would be punished as a Class B felony. The bill also notes that, although it could involve local funding, it does not require local government approval to take effect because it fits an exception in Amendment 621; it would become law on the first day of the third month after its passage and governor's signature.

Who It Affects

• Drug sellers or distributors could be charged with manslaughter (Class B felony) if a person dies from the substance they sold.
• People who die from using drugs sold to them (and their families) are affected by this liability, since the seller could face a manslaughter charge as a result.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 13A-6-3 to add that selling or distributing a controlled substance in violation of Section 13A-12-211, when the recipient dies as a proximate result, constitutes manslaughter.
• Declares manslaughter as a Class B felony.
• Provides the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and governor's approval.
• Notes that the bill is exempt from Amendment 621’s local-funding vote requirement because it defines a new crime or amends an existing crime.

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

Subjects

Controlled Substances