HB202 Alabama 2018 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2018

Title

Schools, terminally ill minors, Palliative and End of Life Individual Health Plans to be used in school setting, program established, Secs. 16-30B-1 to 16-30B-6, inclusive, added

Summary

The Alex Hoover Palliative and End of Life Care Act creates individualized health plans for terminally ill students in public schools, with protections for those who implement the plan and a rulemaking process to guide its use.

What This Bill Does

It requires a Palliative and End of Life Individual Health Plan (PELOHP) to be developed by a school nurse in collaboration with the student’s parents/guardians and qualified representatives, outlining the care and school participation the student may have. The plan may include an Order for Pediatric Palliative and End of Life Care for use in the school setting, with the school nurse as the only staff subject to those order requirements. It provides civil immunity for school employees and attending physicians who follow the plan’s directives and notes that the physician has no supervisory authority over the school’s execution of the plan. It also requires the State Board of Education to adopt rules by a set date and creates a temporary task force to help develop those rules.

Who It Affects

• Terminally ill students in Alabama public schools and their parents or guardians, who would have a PELOHP created to guide care and school participation.
• School nurses, other school employees, and attending physicians involved in implementing or supervising the PELOHP, who receive immunity and may be subject to training guidelines.

Key Provisions

• Creates a new Chapter 30B in Title 16 establishing the Alex Hoover Palliative and End of Life Care Act and the PELOHP.
• PELOHPs are developed by the school nurse with the qualified representative and family and may include an Order for Pediatric Palliative and End of Life Care to be used in school settings.
• Immunity for school employees and attending physicians who follow the plan; attending physicians have no supervisory authority over the school’s execution of the plan and are immune from related civil liability.
• State Board of Education must adopt rules by June 1, 2019 governing administration of PELOHPs, including contents, execution/termination procedures, and training guidelines for school staff.
• A temporary task force under the Department of Education is created to recommend rules, with defined membership and a sunset date when rules are adopted; the task force must ensure diverse representation.

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

Subjects

Students