HB295 Alabama 2024 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Chris SellsRepresentative

Republican

Session

Regular Session 2024

Title

Day care centers; required to install and maintain video cameras; use of cameras and recordings, limited to certain circumstances; video recordings confidential except following incident of alleged abuse, neglect, harassment, or other inappropriate behavior; Dept. of Human Resources required to adopt rules

Summary

HB295 would require Alabama day care centers to install cameras where children are, limit how recordings are used, keep them confidential, and have the Department of Human Resources set the rules, with the changes taking effect in 2025.

What This Bill Does

Centers must install and maintain cameras in all areas occupied by children, with some exceptions (centers inside or connected to other facilities only need to record classrooms used by the center). Cameras record audio and video during operating hours, but not in restrooms or changing areas, and may temporarily pause in the main instructional area during clothing changes. Recordings must be kept for at least three months or until investigations are finished, and cannot be used for regular monitoring or live streaming. Access to recordings is limited to specific people after an incident, including staff involved, parents or guardians, law enforcement and state agency officials, legal counsel, and investigators; written notice to parents is required; and the Department of Human Resources must adopt rules to implement these provisions, with the law taking effect January 1, 2025.

Who It Affects

• Day care centers and their staff will be required to install, operate, and maintain cameras, manage recordings, and comply with confidentiality and retention requirements.
• Parents/guardians of children at day care centers, center staff involved in incidents, law enforcement, state agency officials, legal counsel, and investigators will have access to recordings under specified circumstances and will receive notice about camera placement.

Key Provisions

• Provision 1: Cameras must be installed and maintained in all areas where children are present, with audio and video recording during operating hours (except in restrooms or changing areas; temporary pauses allowed in the main instructional area during clothing changes; centers inside or connected to other facilities record only classrooms used by the center).
• Provision 2: Recordings must be kept for at least three months or until investigations are completed; recordings are confidential and may be released only to defined individuals (staff involved, parents/guardians, law enforcement and state agency officials, legal counsel, investigators); regular monitoring and live streaming are prohibited; the Department of Human Resources must adopt implementing rules; effective date is January 1, 2025.

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

Subjects

Children