SB9 Alabama 2019 Session

Updated Feb 24, 2026

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Linda Coleman-MadisonSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2019
Title: Forensic Sciences Dept., required to notify next of kin when retaining organ of deceased, prohibit medical examiner for retaining organ for use not in conjunction with autopsy, penalties, Sec. 36-18-2.1 added; Sec. 36-18-2 am'd.
Summary: SB 9 would require notifying the next of kin when the Department of Forensic Sciences retains a deceased person’s organs and would prohibit organ retention for non-death-related research without consent, with violations treated as Class C felonies.
What This Bill Does
If passed, the bill requires medical examiners and the Department of Forensic Sciences to notify the next of kin (through the appropriate law enforcement agency) when retaining a deceased person’s organ or organs for testing to determine identity or cause/manner of death. It also prohibits retaining an organ for research or any other use not tied to the death investigation without notification and approval from the next of kin. Violations would be Class C felonies. The bill also includes technical revisions to the director’s duties and discusses potential local funding implications under constitutional rules.

Who It Affects
Next of kin of deceased persons — must be notified and must approve organ retention or non-standard use.
Medical examiners and the Department of Forensic Sciences (and related law enforcement) — must notify next of kin and are prohibited from retaining organs for non-death-related purposes without consent; violations carry a Class C felony.

Key Provisions
Notification to the next of kin, through the appropriate law enforcement agency, when retaining a deceased person's entire organ or organs for testing to determine identification or the cause/manner of death.
Prohibition on retaining a deceased person's organ for research or other purposes not connected to the death investigation without notification to and approval by the next of kin, with violations constituting a Class C felony.
Technical revisions to the duties of the Director of the Department of Forensic Sciences.
Acknowledgment of potential local funding implications under Amendment 621; the bill states it falls within exceptions that may allow it to become law without requiring a local government vote.

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