SB317 Alabama 2024 Session

Updated Feb 23, 2026

High Interest

Summary

Primary Sponsor: Rodger SmithermanSenator
Democrat
Session: Regular Session 2024
Title: Crimes and offense; unlawful for clergy to commit certain sex acts; crime created; penalties provided
Summary: SB317 would create new crimes prohibiting clergy members from sexual acts with minors or protected persons and establish penalties.
What This Bill Does
It adds a new section defining 'child' as under 19 or a protected person under 22, and 'clergy member' as ministers, priests, rabbis, bishops, or other recognized clergy or volunteer staff. It bars clergy from engaging in sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child (Class B felony), and from sexual contact with a child (Class C felony). It also bans soliciting, persuading, encouraging, harassing, or enticing a child to engage in a sex act (Class C felony), and distributing or transmitting obscene material to a child (or soliciting a child to transmit obscenity), also a Class C felony. Consent is not a defense in these cases. The act becomes effective immediately and is exempt from certain local-funding expenditure rules because it defines a new crime.

Who It Affects
Clergy members (ministers, priests, rabbis, bishops, or other recognized clergy, including volunteer staff) who would face felony charges for illegal sex acts with a minor or protected person.
Children and protected persons (any person under 19 or under 22, respectively) who would be protected from sexual acts by clergy and from related offenses such as solicitation or transmission of obscene material.

Key Provisions
§13A-6-86: unlawful for a clergy member to engage in sexual intercourse or sodomy with a child; consent is not a defense; Class B felony.
§13A-6-87(a)(1): unlawful for a clergy member to engage in sexual contact with a child; consent is not a defense; Class C felony.
§13A-6-87(b)(1): unlawful for a clergy member to solicit, persuade, encourage, harass, or entice a child to engage in a sex act; consent is not a defense; Class C felony.
§13A-6-88: unlawful for a clergy member to distribute or transmit obscene material to a child, or to solicit a child to transmit obscene material; Class C felony.
Definitions: 'child' means under 19 or a protected person under 22; 'clergy member' includes ministers, priests, rabbis, bishops, or other recognized clergy or volunteer staff.

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 & Offenses