SB34 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Clyde ChamblissSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Parental rights, provide that a conviction of a parent for rape or incest is a ground for termination of parental rights if the rape or incest resulted in the conception of the child, Sec. 12-15-319 am'd.
Summary: SB 34 would make a parent's conviction for rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, or incest that results in a child’s conception a ground for terminating parental rights, and would limit family-preservation efforts in those cases.
What This Bill Does
The bill amends Alabama code to require termination of parental rights if a parent is convicted of rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, or incest and the crime involved a child. It also states that reasonable efforts to preserve or reunify the family prior to removal may not be required in these cases, and it requires the juvenile court to find the parent unable to properly care for the child and to terminate rights. The act is named Jessi's Law and updates permanency considerations for affected children.

Who It Affects
Parents who have been convicted of rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, or incest where the crime involved a child; their parental rights would be terminated.
Children of those parents; they would move toward permanent placement (such as adoption or guardianship) after termination of parental rights, with safety and permanency as a focus.

Key Provisions
Creates Jessi's Law and amends Sections 12-15-312 and 12-15-319 to implement it.
Adds rape in the first degree, sodomy in the first degree, and incest as grounds for terminating parental rights when the crime involved a child’s conception and the parent is convicted.
Requires the juvenile court to find the parent unable to properly care for the child and to terminate parental rights in these cases.
Provides that reasonable efforts to preserve or reunify a family prior to removal may not be required in these situations.
Reiterates that the crime occurred by the parent against the child when determining termination.
Effective date: becomes law 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: Parental Rights