SB379 Alabama 2019 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Randy PriceSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2019

Title

Consumer Protection, Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act, enhanced criminal penalties provided under certain conditions, Secs. 13A-9-114, 34-8-6, 34-14A-14, 34-31-32, 34-36-16, 34-37-17 am'd.

Summary

SB 379 creates the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act, making unlicensed contractors criminally liable for certain emergency-recovery work and strengthening licensing enforcement during governor-declared emergencies.

What This Bill Does

It makes unlicensed providers of general contracting, residential homebuilding, HVAC, electrical, plumbing, or home repair work on structures damaged by a governor-declared state of emergency guilty of a Class C felony if the project cost exceeds $2,500 (or the license threshold, whichever is greater). Charitable cleanup or repair work that does not require a license and charges no fee is exempt. The bill also changes penalties for consumer protection and licensing violations (first offense becomes a Class A misdemeanor; subsequent offenses become Class C felonies) and empowers licensing boards to issue cease-and-desist orders, seek injunctions, impose fines, and suspend or revoke licenses, with restitution possible as a condition of probation or sentence. It notes the act is exempt from local-funds expenditure requirements and sets an effective date after the governor’s declaration.

Who It Affects

• Unlicensed contractors and service providers who perform or contract to perform the listed services on emergency-damaged structures; they face felony charges, potential fines, and licensing penalties when thresholds are met.
• Property owners, architects, engineers, construction managers, and awarding authorities who solicit or evaluate bids from unlicensed workers; they could face penalties if they hire or consider bids from unlicensed contractors and must verify licensure.

Key Provisions

• Establishes the Alabama State of Emergency Consumer Protection Act.
• Unlicensed provision of specified contracting services during a governor-declared state of emergency is a Class C felony when the project costs exceed $2,500 or the license threshold.
• Charitable cleanup or repair work that requires no license and charges no fee is exempt from these penalties.
• Amends penalties for consumer protection and licensing violations: first conviction becomes Class A misdemeanor; second or subsequent convictions become Class C felony.
• Authorizes boards to issue cease-and-desist orders, seek injunctions, levy fines, suspend or revoke licenses, and require restitution as a condition of probation or sentence.
• Notes the bill’s relation to local-funds expenditure rules under Amendment 621 and specifies an effective date after the governor’s emergency declaration.

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

Subjects

Consumers and Consumer Protection