SB83 Alabama 2023 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

April WeaverSenator

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.

Summary

SB83 expands Alabama's child abuse laws to include willful mistreatment and certain physical contact with very young or disabled children, making these acts a Class C felony.

What This Bill Does

It expands the definition of child abuse to cover willful mistreatment and certain physical contact with children five years old and under, and with 17-year-olds who have mental or developmental disabilities, if the contact is intended to cause physical injury. A responsible person—like a parent, guardian, or someone with care or custody—who tortures, willfully abuses, mistreats, cruelly beats, or otherwise willfully maltreats any child under 18 would be guilty of a Class C felony. The bill also includes a provision under Section 111.05 that allows it to become law without requiring local government approval or a 2/3 vote, and it becomes effective on September 1, 2023.

Who It Affects

• Children under 18 in Alabama, who would be protected by the expanded definitions of mistreatment and abuse.
• Parents, guardians, step-parents, or other people responsible for supervising or caring for a child, who could face Class C felony charges if they commit the described mistreatment or abuse.

Key Provisions

• Adds willful mistreatment to the definition of child abuse, defining mistreat as any intentional behavior that inflicts unnecessary or unjustifiable pain or suffering on a child without causing physical injury.
• Specifies that a responsible person who tortures, willfully abuses, willfully mistreats, cruelly beats, or otherwise willfully maltreats any child under 18 years old shall be guilty of a Class C felony.
• Expands application to include certain physical contact with a child five years old or under, and certain physical contact with 17-year-olds who have mental or developmental disabilities, when the contact is intended to cause physical injury.
• The act is exempt from additional local-funds approval requirements under Section 111.05 because it defines a new or amended crime; effective September 1, 2023.

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, child abuse, definition further provided, criminal penalties provided