SB171 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Sam GivhanSenator

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2023

Title

Relating to the State Health Officer; to amend Section 22-2-8, Code of Alabama 1975, to revise appointment of the State Health Officer; to require certain emergency rules, orders, or directives issued by the State Health Officer to be approved by the Governor and a copy filed with the Secretary of State before the emergency rule, order, or other directive has the full force and effect of law; and to make nonsubstantive, technical revisions to update the existing code language to current style.

Summary

The bill would shift the appointment of Alabama’s State Health Officer to the Governor and require Governor approval and Secretary of State filing for emergency health rules that would restrict private conduct.

What This Bill Does

It changes who appoints the State Health Officer from the public health committee to the Governor. It requires that any emergency rule, order, or directive by the State Health Officer that would restrict private conduct cannot take effect until the Governor approves it and a copy is filed with the Secretary of State. It keeps the Health Officer supervising county health officials and reporting actions to the public health committee for possible confirmation or modification, and it includes minor, technical updates to the code language.

Who It Affects

• Private citizens and businesses in Alabama: any emergency health rules or directives that would restrict conduct would need Governor approval and filing with the Secretary of State before taking effect (with an exception for individualized directives addressing violations of state law and Board of Health rules).
• County boards of health and county health officers: the State Health Officer would supervise them and report any delinquencies; the officer's actions would be subject to confirmation or modification by the State Committee on Public Health.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Appoints the Governor to select the State Health Officer (who must be a licensed Alabama physician) and have the officer serve at the Governor's pleasure, with salary fixed by the State Committee on Public Health; the officer would act as executive officer when the committee is not in session and report actions to the committee for confirmation or modification.
• Provision 2: Emergency rules, orders, or directives by the State Health Officer that would restrict private conduct may not take effect without the Governor's approval and a filed copy with the Secretary of State; an exception allows individualized directives for violations of state law and Board of Health rules; the act also contains nonsubstantive technical updates to the code.

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

Subjects

State Health Officer, appointed by Governor; order issued in response to outbreak of a disease, Governor approval required