SB219 Alabama 2020 Session

Updated Feb 26, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Shay ShelnuttSenator
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2020
Title: Vulnerable Child Compassion and Protection Act, prohibits gender change therapy for minors, prohibits withholding of certain related information from parents
Summary: SB219 would bar puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, and gender-affirming surgeries for minors, require schools to inform parents about a student’s gender perceptions, and impose criminal penalties for violations.
What This Bill Does
It prohibits medical procedures or prescriptions intended to alter a minor's gender or delay puberty, with exceptions for certain disorders of sex development. It requires schools to disclose information about a student's gender perception to their parents and prohibits school staff from encouraging or withholding such information. Violations by medical providers are criminal offenses (Class C felony). The act also defines key terms and includes a provision about local funding requirements related to creating a new crime.

Who It Affects
Minors who might seek gender-affirming care would be protected from such treatments, with exceptions for medically verifiable disorders of sex development.
Parents/guardians and school staff: schools would have to disclose information to parents about a student's gender perception, and staff would be prohibited from encouraging hiding or withholding information; violations could carry criminal penalties for involved parties.

Key Provisions
Prohibits prescribing, dispensing, or performing puberty blockers, cross-sex hormones, sterilizing surgeries, and gender-affirming surgeries on minors, with exceptions for medically verifiable disorders of sex development.
Defines terms MINOR, PERSON, and SEX for the purposes of the act.
Establishes criminal penalties for violations (Class C felony).
Requires schools to disclose relevant information about a student's gender perception to parents and prohibits school staff from withholding or encouraging withholding such information.
Expresses that the act creates a new crime and is exempt from certain local-funding requirements under Amendment 621.

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