HB 260

Under existing law, there is no requirement for a health care professional or health care facility to receive or provide training regarding human trafficking

This bill would require health care facilities to require certain employees to receive human trafficking training

Relating to human trafficking; to provide that health care facilities require certain employees to receive human trafficking training.

Section 1

(a) This section shall apply to any health care facility licensed pursuant to Article 2 of Chapter f Title 22, Code of Alabama 1975. (b) A health care facility shall require employees, described in subsection (c), who have direct contact or interactions with facility patients, or visitors of facility patients, to receive training as required in Section 2, regardless of whether the contact or interaction is clinical or non-clinical in nature. (c) For the purposes of this act, the term

employee" shall include all of the following: (1) Administrators. (2) Facility heath care professionals who are licensed under Title 34, Code of Alabama 1975, and who hold professional credentials issued by the State of Alabama, regardless of the compensation arrangement or contractual status. (3) Emergency medical services personnel licensed under Article 1 of Chapter 18 of Title 22, Code of Alabama 1975. (4) Paid and volunteer facility workers.

Section 2

(a) A health care facility shall ensure that employees, as defined in Section 1, receive human trafficking handling and response training. The health care facility shall annually review and update the training to include changes and trends in human trafficking. Health care facilities shall collaborate with organizations that specialize in the recognition and prevention of human trafficking when annually reviewing the curriculum. (b) A health care facility shall ensure that an employee receives the required training by the following dates: (1) By July 1, 2020, for any existing facility workers. (2) Within six months of the first day of employment at the facility, for any workers who begin employment after July 1, 2020.

Section 3

A health care facility shall establish, maintain, and make available, upon request of a member of any board as defined in Article 2 of Chapter 21 of Title 22, Code of Alabama 1975, a record that identifies all of the following: (1) The name and position of each of the facility employees that are required to receive training pursuant to

Section 4

(2) The date that each employee is to receive training as required by Section 2. (3) The date that each employee actually receives training as required by Section 2.

Section 5

A health care facility may be assessed a penalty for violations of Section 2, governing human trafficking handling and response training, of one thousand dollars ($1,000) per violation, which may be assessed for each day noncompliance is found. Funds collected under this section shall be deposited in the State Treasury to the credit of the Attorney General's Special Revenue Account for the purpose of education and other programs relating to human trafficking.

Section 6

This act shall become effective on January 1, 2020, following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.