HB428 Alabama 2023 Session

Updated Jan 14, 2026

House Bill

Expired

Current Status

Regular Session 2023

Session

Sponsor

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Jerry Starnes Representative
Republican
Session: Regular Session 2023
Title: Relating to child abuse; to amend Sections 26-15-2 and 26-15-3, Code of Alabama 1975; to further define the crime of child abuse to include willful mistreatment; and in connection therewith would have as its purpose or effect the requirement of a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022.
Description: Under existing law, child abuse is a Class C felony.
This bill would expand the definition of child abuse to include certain physical contact of a child five years of age or under and certain physical contact of children with certain mental or developmental disabilities who are 17 years of age or younger, provided the contact was committed with the intent to cause physical injury.
Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.
The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective HB428 INTRODUCED because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment.Under existing law, child abuse is a Class C felony.
This bill would expand the definition of child abuse to include certain physical contact of a child five years of age or under and certain physical contact of children with certain mental or developmental disabilities who are 17 years of age or younger, provided the contact was committed with the intent to cause physical injury.
Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, prohibits a general law whose purpose or effect would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds from becoming effective with regard to a local governmental entity without enactment by a 2/3 vote unless: it comes within one of a number of specified exceptions; it is approved by the affected entity; or the Legislature appropriates funds, or provides a local source of revenue, to the entity for the purpose.
The purpose or effect of this bill would be to require a new or increased expenditure of local funds within the meaning of the amendment. However, the bill does not require approval of a local governmental entity or enactment by a 2/3 vote to become effective because it comes within one of the specified exceptions contained in the amendment.
HB428 INTRODUCED.
Subjects: Crimes and offenses, child abuse, definition further provided, criminal penalties provided