HB228 Alabama 2022 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Russell BedsoleRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2022

Title

Assault in the second degree, physical injury to employee of Dept. of Human Resouces or social worker, included in offense, Sec. 13A-6-21 am'd.

Summary

HB228 expands the second-degree assault law to cover more actions, including assaults on DHR employees or social workers, and keeps the offense as a Class C felony.

What This Bill Does

The bill broadens what counts as assault in the second degree by adding new scenarios, including harming a Department of Human Resources employee or a social worker in the line of duty. It maintains the classification of assault in the second degree as a Class C felony. It also specifies who can be victims (such as teachers, health care workers, peace officers, and utility workers) and clarifies certain definitions; and it states the bill is exempt from local-funding approval requirements due to creating a new crime or changing a crime’s definition, with an effective date set after passage and gubernatorial approval.

Who It Affects

• Offenders: People who commit actions listed in the bill would have those acts qualify as assault in the second degree, including the new category involving DHR and social workers.
• Victims/People in certain jobs: DHR employees and social workers would be explicitly protected, and other listed workers (teachers, health care workers, peace officers, utility workers) could be victims whose assault qualifies as second-degree under the statute.

Key Provisions

• Amends Section 13A-6-21 to add a new subsection (8): With intent to cause physical injury to a Department of Human Resources employee or any employee performing social work, during or as a result of performing duties, and causes physical injury to any person.
• Affirms that assault in the second degree remains a Class C felony.
• Defines 'utility worker' for the purposes of the statute to include employees of entities that own, operate, lease, or control utilities (electricity, gas, water, sewage, or telephone) or two or more jointly served utilities.
• Specifies that the bill is exempt from certain local expenditure approval requirements because it defines a new crime or amends an existing one ( Amendment 621/111.05 context), avoiding the need for local 2/3 vote approval.
• Sets the effective date: the act becomes effective on the first day of the third month after passage and governor’s approval.

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

Subjects

Crimes and Offenses