SB109 Alabama 2020 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Arthur OrrSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2020

Title

Crimes and offenses, tampering with a consumer product, criminal penalties provided

Summary

SB 109 would make tampering with consumer products illegal (including food and drugs) and assign felony penalties to violators, while noting the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621.

What This Bill Does

It creates a new crime of tampering with a consumer product or its labeling or container. It defines key terms such as consumer product, labeling, bodily injury, and serious bodily injury. It sets penalties: a Class B felony for tampering with reckless disregard for safety; a Class A felony if serious injury or death results; a Class B felony if tampering is done to harm a business or to provide false or misleading labeling. It also states the bill is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it creates or amends a crime, and it provides the act’s effective date.

Who It Affects

• Consumers and the general public would be protected from tampering and could be harmed if tampering occurs, with violators facing felony penalties.
• Businesses that manufacture, label, or sell consumer products would be affected because tampering aimed at injuring a business or false labeling could result in felony charges.

Key Provisions

• Creates the crime of tampering with a consumer product, including tampering with the product itself, its labeling, or its container, for products offered for sale to the public (food and drugs included).
• Defines terms: consumer product, labeling, bodily injury, and serious bodily injury.
• Penalties: Class B felony for tampering with reckless disregard for risk; Class A felony if tampering causes serious physical injury or death; Class B felony if tampering is done with intent to injure a business or to render false or misleading labeling.
• Local-funding note: The bill is exempt from local-funding requirements under Amendment 621 because it defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime.
• Effective date: Becomes law on the first day of the third month after passage and governor's approval.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 23, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses