HB11 Alabama 2021 1st Special Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Andrew SorrellAuditor

Republican

Session

First Special Session 2021

Title

Education, State Board of Education to adopt rules regarding controlling the spread of COVID-19 in public K-12 schools, reduce funding for public K-12 schools that violate rules

Summary

The bill would require the State Board of Education to set rules to control COVID-19 in public K-12 schools without mandating masks, protect parental rights, and impose funding cuts on schools that enforce mask mandates in violation of those rules.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the State Board of Education, with the Department of Public Health, would adopt safety rules for public K-12 schools that avoid forcing mask use and preserve parental health decisions. The rules would also protect students with disabilities or health conditions from certain masking requirements and allow voluntary masking by parents. If a school or local board enforces a mask mandate in violation of these rules, the State Superintendent would cut 5% of the affected school's or board's Foundation Program Fund funding in the next fiscal year, with safeguards to prevent harm to other schools; the act would take effect on the first day of the third month after passage.

Who It Affects

• Public K-12 schools and local boards of education would face a 5% reduction in Foundation Program Fund funding if they enforce a mask mandate in violation of the new rules.
• Parents and students would retain the right to decide whether to wear masks in school, and voluntary masking would be allowed; the rules would protect students with disabilities or health conditions from harmful masking protocols.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: The State Board of Education, in consultation with the Alabama Department of Public Health, must adopt rules to control the spread of COVID-19 in public K-12 schools that protect constitutional freedoms, preserve parental decision-making about masking, and shield students with disabilities or health conditions from problematic protocols;Nothing in this section limits a parent's ability to voluntarily require their child to wear a mask.
• Provision 2: If a public K-12 school or a local board of education violates the rules by enforcing a mask mandate, the State Superintendent must reduce by 5% in the next fiscal year the Foundation Program Fund allotment for the violating school or local board, with safeguards to prevent reductions from harming other schools; the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage.

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

Subjects

Education