HB413 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

John W. Rogers

Democrat

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Professional licensing boards, review of certain boards, prohibit discrimination of a person or client, create judicial review board

Summary

HB 413 would prohibit discrimination by licensed professionals and create a judicial review board to handle discrimination complaints and guide disciplinary actions.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill would forbid licensees of professional licensing boards from unlawfully discriminating or knowingly permitting discrimination against people or clients based on protected characteristics in hiring, promotion, or providing services. It would create a Judicial Review Board made up of nine circuit court judges appointed by the Governor to hear discrimination complaints and make determinations. Disciplinary actions by licensing boards could not start until the Judicial Review Board adjudicates a complaint, and the board’s findings would be admissible evidence in those disciplinary cases. It would also allow individuals who believe their rights were violated during an investigation to file a complaint with the Judicial Review Board, with its findings admissible in disciplinary proceedings.

Who It Affects

• Licensees of professional licensing boards listed in Title 34, Alabama Code: they would be prohibited from unlawfully discriminating and subject to review by the Judicial Review Board, with findings admissible in disciplinary actions.
• People and clients who interact with these licensees: they would gain protections against discrimination in employment and in receiving goods or services, and could file complaints with the Judicial Review Board.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits licensees from unlawfully discriminating or knowingly permitting unlawful discrimination based on race, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, age, or disability in hiring, promotion, firing, or providing services.
• Creates a Judicial Review Board consisting of nine circuit court judges appointed by the Governor to hear complaints and make determinations under this act; board design must reflect statewide diversity.
• Requires that disciplinary investigations or actions by professional licensing boards wait for the Judicial Review Board to adjudicate a complaint, and allows the board’s findings to be admissible evidence in disciplinary proceedings.
• Allows a licensee or concerned person to submit a complaint to the Judicial Review Board if rights were violated during an investigation, with the board’s findings admissible in disciplinary proceedings.
• Provides definitions for key terms used in the act, such as knowingly permit, licensee, and unlawful/unlawfully.
• States the act’s effective date as the first day of the third month after passage and Governor approval (or otherwise becoming law).

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

Subjects

Boards and Commissions