HB19 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chip BrownRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Medical services, consent for health services, prohibit consent by minors to vaccines, Sec. 22-8-4 am'd.

Summary

HB19 would require a parent or legal guardian's consent for vaccinations for unemancipated minors by amending the state's consent law.

What This Bill Does

The bill amends Section 22-8-4 to require parental consent for any vaccination administered to unemancipated minors. It keeps the existing rule that minors aged 14 or older (or who have graduated, are married, or are pregnant) can consent to most other medical, dental, and mental health services without a parent, but vaccination consent must come from a parent or guardian for unemancipated minors. Emancipated minors are not covered by this change as written.

Who It Affects

• Unemancipated minors: must obtain parental or guardian consent before receiving a vaccination.
• Parents/guardians: gain decision-making authority specifically for vaccinations of unemancipated minors.
• Healthcare providers: must obtain parental or guardian consent before vaccinating unemancipated minors.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 22-8-4 to require parental or legal guardian consent for any vaccination for unemancipated minors, while preserving existing self-consent rules for other medical, dental, and mental health services for minors aged 14+ or with certain life events.
• Specifies that the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the Governor.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 22, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Health Care