HB27 Alabama 2025 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Kerry UnderwoodRepresentative

Republican

Session

2025 Regular Session

Title

Sex offenders; restricted employment and volunteer provisions further provided for

Summary

HB27 tightens where sex offenders can work or volunteer by banning first-responder roles and setting distance limits around schools, childcare facilities, and other places serving minors.

What This Bill Does

It prohibits adult sex offenders from being employed or volunteering as first responders. It adds location restrictions: adults may not work within 2,000 feet of schools or childcare facilities (with exemptions), and within 500 feet of playgrounds, parks, athletic fields, or other minor-focused facilities if the offender has a child-related offense. It also bars owners/operators of child-focused facilities from knowingly hiring adult sex offenders. Juvenile sex offenders face similar employment restrictions during their registration. Violations are Class C felonies, and the act takes effect on October 1, 2025. It also clarifies that changes to property within 2,000 feet after an offender starts employment cannot be used to prove a violation.

Who It Affects

• Adult and juvenile sex offenders would be restricted from taking or maintaining employment or volunteer positions as first responders and from working near schools, childcare facilities, playgrounds, parks, and other places serving minors; violations can be Class C felonies.
• Owners/operators of schools, childcare facilities, amusement or water parks, mobile vendors primarily serving children, and other organizations serving minors would be prohibited from knowingly hiring or placing adult or juvenile sex offenders, and must enforce these distance rules.

Key Provisions

• Prohibits adult sex offenders from accepting or maintaining employment or volunteering as a first responder (paramedics, firefighters, EMTs, etc.).
• Adds 2,000-foot straight-line distance prohibitions from the property of schools or childcare facilities for adult sex offenders, with exemptions where applicable.
• Adds 500-foot straight-line distance prohibitions from playgrounds, parks, athletic facilities, or other minor-focused facilities for adult sex offenders who have a child-related offense.
• Prohibits owners/operators of childcare facilities and other child-service organizations from knowingly employing or volunteering adult sex offenders.
• Extends similar employment restrictions to juvenile sex offenders during the period they are subject to juvenile registration.
• Defines 'first responder' for the purposes of these prohibitions.
• Violations are Class C felonies.
• Effective date: October 1, 2025.
• Provides that changes to property within 2,000 feet after an offender starts employment shall not be used to establish a violation.

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