HB240 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act, requiring physicians and health care professionals to report certain types of injuries and illnesses to police or appropriate law enforcement authorities

Summary

HB 240 would require doctors and health care staff to report certain violent-injury cases to law enforcement and provides immunity for good-faith reporters.

What This Bill Does

The bill creates the Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act. It requires treating physicians, health care professionals, and health care facility staff to report to the appropriate law enforcement authorities when a patient has injuries or illnesses that indicate violent crime, including gunshot wounds, powder burns, knife injuries, poisoning, or injuries appearing to come from criminal violence (including suspected non-accidental trauma). Reports must include basic patient information and details of the injury. Reporters are immune from civil or criminal liability when reporting in good faith. The act would take effect on the first day of the third month after it becomes law.

Who It Affects

• Physicians, health care professionals, and health care facility directors/administrators (and their designees) are required to report qualifying injuries to law enforcement.
• Patients treated for qualifying injuries will have their injuries and basic identifying information reported to law enforcement, with reporters protected from liability when reporting in good faith.

Key Provisions

• Creates the Crimes of Violence Treatment Reporting Act.
• Requires reporting of certain injuries or illnesses consistent with violent crime to appropriate law enforcement authorities when treated at any Alabama hospital or health care facility; triggers include gunshot wounds, powder burns, knife/stab injuries, injuries from firearm discharge, poisoning illnesses, and injuries appearing to result from criminal violence (including non-accidental trauma).
• Reports must include name, age, sex, race, residential address or current location, and details of the injury.
• Provides immunity from civil or criminal liability for reporters who make reports in good faith.
• Effective date: first day of the third month after passage and 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

Health Care Providers