SB115 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Jim McClendon

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Health, neonatal abstinence centers, provide for licensure and regulation by State Board of Health

Summary

SB 115 would authorize the State Board of Health to license and regulate neonatal abstinence care centers that treat infants with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and set minimum operation standards.

What This Bill Does

It authorizes the State Board of Health to license neonatal abstinence care centers and regulate their operation. It defines a neonatal abstinence care center as a health care facility that treats infants under one year with Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome and lists required services. It requires the Board to adopt rules implementing licensing and minimum standards, including staffing, safety, sanitation, medical records, and facility policies. It also requires the Health Planning and Development Agency to treat NAS centers as a unique medical service in certificate of need reviews. It sets an effective date for the act to take effect on the first day of the third month after passage and approval.

Who It Affects

• Infants under one year who have Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome would receive treatment at licensed neonatal abstinence care centers.
• Hospitals, clinics, doctors, nurses, and other staff who operate or work in NAS centers, plus the infants’ parents or guardians, would need to meet licensing standards and participate in required services and training.

Key Provisions

• Authorizes the State Board of Health to license and regulate neonatal abstinence care centers.
• Defines a neonatal abstinence care center and lists required services (e.g., administration of medication, pain management, nursing care, physician visits, parental training).
• Requires the Board to adopt rules with minimum standards of operation, including staffing, qualifications, safety, sanitation, medical records, pharmacy, nursing, medical services, facilities, visitation, and admission/transfer/discharge policies.
• Requires the Board to adopt rules to implement the act.
• Requires the Health Planning and Development Agency to treat neonatal abstinence care centers as a unique medical service in certificate of need reviews.
• Sets the act to become effective on the first day of the third month after passage and 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 Facilities