Bridging the Divide
Chuck Bradley
Several new Alabama laws became effective on October 1, including a law providing immunity for first responders to provide aid to police and fire dogs, the Community Pharmacy Relief Act potentially impacting prescription costs for patients, “Parker’s Law” offering an exemption from jury duty for nursing mothers, and law raising the age of medical consent for minors from 14 to 16.
Additionally, other new laws cover enhanced penalties for child pornography-related crimes, protections for officers under the “Back the Blue” bill and enhanced maternal Medicaid coverage for low-income pregnant women.
Laws of Broad Impact
Lakyn Canine Act (HB 366): Provides immunity for emergency medical service personnel to render aid and transport to police and fire department dogs.
Back the Blue Bill (HB 202): Grants law enforcement officers’ immunity for actions taken within their duties, with exceptions for reckless conduct or clear constitutional violations.
Community Pharmacy Relief Act (HB 389): Requires Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs) to pay independent pharmacies a fair dispensing fee, though this could lead to increased prescription costs for patients.
Parker’s Law: Exempts nursing mothers from jury duty for up to 24 months, based on a written statement and proof of birth.
Age of Medical Consent: The age at which a minor can give legal consent for medical, dental and mental health services has been raised from 14 to 16, with specific exceptions.
Laws Regarding Crime and Public Safety
Child Pornography Penalties: New laws enhance penalties for possessing, promoting, or creating lewd or lascivious images, or child pornography.
Lulu’s Law: Enables Mobile and Baldwin counties’ Emergency Management agencies to send mobile shark attack alerts to local phones.
AEDs in Schools: Requires AEDs to be clearly marked and readily available at athletic venues and mandates comprehensive cardiac emergency response plans for schools.
Maternal Health and Other Laws
Maternal Medicaid Law: Provides immediate presumptive Medicaid coverage for prenatal care for low-income pregnant women while their applications are being processed.
Human Trafficking: House Bill 94 expands the definition of second-degree human trafficking to include advertising or offering access to “sexual or labor servitude.”
Until next week, please send your questions or comments to bradleychuck92@gmail.com.
