Senate Bill 203 Alabama 2026 Session

Summary

Primary Sponsor

Vivian Davis FiguresSenator

Democrat

Session

2026 Regular Session

Title

Crimes and procedure; crimes of indecent exposure and other sex crimes further provided to include additional victims; crime of inpatient custodial sexual misconduct, established; domestic violence offenses, further provided to include additional victims and criminal penalties

Summary

SB203 expands Alabama's sex-offense laws to protect more child victims, creates a new inpatient custodial sexual misconduct offense, broadens definitions and penalties, and adds reporting and court-procedure updates.

What This Bill Does

It broadens protections for child victims by expanding penalties for indecent exposure and extending age considerations for crimes that direct a child to engage in sex acts or travel to meet a minor, including adding voyeurism to the list of sex offenses. It creates a new crime called inpatient custodial sexual misconduct for facility employees who engage in sexual conduct with patients, with no defense of consent. It updates online transmission of obscene material to children (including cell phones) and clarifies that the offender's belief about the recipient is not a defense, and removes an affirmative defense to kidnapping in certain situations. It also introduces court and reporting reforms, including certified facility dogs in court, expanded mandatory reporting requirements, findings on sexual motivation, and cross-jurisdiction administrative rules, effective October 1, 2026.

Who It Affects

• Children and youths who may be victims of sex offenses, including expanded protections for ages 12-15 in certain cases.
• Professionals and institutions that work with children (teachers, doctors and nurses, hospital staff, school officials, law enforcement, child-welfare workers, and others) who have new duties, reporting requirements, and potential penalties.

Key Provisions

• Indecent exposure: victim under 12 → Class C felony.
• Directing a child to engage in sexual intercourse or sodomy: expands to include 12-15-year-old victims in certain cases with appropriate age gaps.
• Directing a child to engage in sexual contact: expands to include 12-15-year-old victims in certain cases with appropriate age gaps.
• Transmitting obscene material to a child by cellular devices or other electronic means; belief that the recipient is a child is not a defense; undercover officer involvement is not a defense.
• Traveling to meet a child for an unlawful sex act: crime applies when the defendant travels to meet someone believed to be a child.
• Deleting the affirmative defense to kidnapping in the first degree.
• Voyeurism added to the list of sex offenses.
• Inpatient custodial sexual misconduct: new crime for facility employees; consent not a defense; criminal penalties.
• Certified facility dog and handler for court proceedings; procedural guidelines.
• Expanded list of offenses treated as criminal sex offenses under 15-20A-5 (cross-jurisdiction references).
• Sexual motivation provisions: indictments may include sexual motivation; court findings required; special verdicts if jury.
• Admissibility of out-of-court statements by child victims and protected persons under 15-25-31 with procedures and timelines.
• Administrative hearings for certain offenses under 15-20A-44 and cross-jurisdiction listings.
• Mandatory reporting: expanded categories, 72-hour written reports, and penalties for retaliation; interagency cooperation.
• Effective date: October 1, 2026.

AI-generated summary using openai/gpt-5-nano on Feb 12, 2026. May contain errors — refer to the official bill text for accuracy.

Subjects

Crimes & Offenses