HB197 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arnold MooneyRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Advisory Board to the State Health Officer, authorize to meet by electronic means and establish rules of procedures for meetings, Sec. 22-21-27 am'd.

Summary

The bill lets the State Health Officer’s advisory board for hospitals and health care facilities meet electronically and sets rules for how it runs.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the 17-member advisory board to meet by electronic means and to establish rules of procedure for its meetings, and it requires meetings to follow the Open Meeting Act. The board must meet at least twice a year and elect a chair annually. It specifies the board’s composition across hospitals, physicians, nurses, pharmacists, nursing homes, hospice, assisted living, human resources, and a consumer representative, with five-year terms and vacancy rules. Members serve without pay but may be reimbursed for expenses, and the act takes effect immediately upon governor approval.

Who It Affects

• Health care facilities and professionals (hospitals, doctors, nurses, pharmacists, nursing home operators, hospice, and assisted living providers) who participate in the advisory board and influence hospital and health facility rules.
• Consumers and the general public, who gain representation on the board through a governor-appointed consumer member and benefit from meetings conducted under the Open Meeting Act.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the advisory board to meet by electronic means and to establish rules of procedure for its meetings, in compliance with the Open Meeting Act.
• Defines the board as a 17-member panel that assists in establishing rules, regulations, and standards for hospitals and health care facilities and serves as consultants to the State Health Officer.
• Specifies detailed composition: four hospital representatives; three physicians; one nurse; one State Board of Human Resources representative; one pharmacist; three nursing home association members; one hospice representative; two assisted living representatives; and one consumer representative.
• Sets five-year terms for members, with vacancy replacement rules, limits on automatic reappointment after a full term, and provides for expense reimbursement (no compensation); effective immediately upon governor’s 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

State Health Officer