House Bill 189 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Alan BakerRepresentative

Republican

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Juvenile proceedings; court required to notify local superintendent of education or private K-12 school principal of charging or adjudicating an enrolled student delinquent for committing certain criminal offenses

Summary

The bill requires schools to be told within seven days when an enrolled student is charged or adjudicated delinquent for certain offenses, and it sets confidentiality rules for how that information can be shared.

What This Bill Does

If passed, the bill amends Alabama law to require written notice to the local school district superintendent or private school principal within seven days after a student is charged or adjudicated delinquent for offenses that would be capital offenses or felonies, and it allows notice for other crimes at the court’s discretion. The notice must include the offenses and the case disposition, and the school may receive the information through appropriate transmission. The bill also creates strict confidentiality rules and penalties for improper disclosure, and it becomes effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Enrolled students charged or adjudicated delinquent (for listed offenses) and their families, who may be affected by school notification
• Local school districts (superintendents) or private K-12 school principals who receive notifications and disseminate information to staff
• Teachers, counselors, administrators, and other school employees who receive the information under confidentiality rules

Key Provisions

• Notification within seven days to the school administrator (district superintendent or private school principal) when a charged/adjudicated student commits offenses that would be Class A or B felonies or listed capital offenses
• Notification within seven days at the court's discretion for offenses not listed in the capital/felony category
• Notice includes only the offenses and the disposition of the case
• Transmission of notice by the district superintendent to the school principal; dissemination to counselors, teachers, or staff as needed
• Confidential handling of information by teachers, counselors, and administrators; limited disclosure to protect rehabilitation and safety; violations of confidentiality are Class A misdemeanors
• Effective date: October 1, 2026

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano-2025-08-07 on Mar 11, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Criminal Procedure