Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama House Bill HB293 Compare Versions

Only one version of the bill is available at this time.

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1	1	HB293INTRODUCED
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3	3	HB293
4	4	AVG1SSQ-1
5	5	By Representatives Rafferty, Wilcox
6	6	RFD: Boards, Agencies and Commissions
7	7	First Read: 18-Feb-25
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12	12	5 AVG1SSQ-1 01/09/2025 ZAK (L)ma 2024-3291
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14	14	First Read: 18-Feb-25
15	15	SYNOPSIS:
16	16	The Alabama Open Meetings Act provides certain
17	17	requirements for meetings of governmental bodies. Under
18	18	the law, certain governmental bodies may meet by
19	19	electronic participation subject to certain
20	20	restrictions.
21	21	This bill would exempt the State Board of
22	22	Genetic Counseling from the Alabama Open Meetings Act's
23	23	restrictions governing electronic participation in
24	24	meetings.
25	25	A BILL
26	26	TO BE ENTITLED
27	27	AN ACT
28	28	Relating to State Board of Genetic Counseling; to amend
29	29	Section 34-13A-3, Code of Alabama 1975, to authorize board
30	30	members to participate in meetings via electronic equipment
31	31	notwithstanding the restrictions in the Alabama Open Meetings
32	32	Act.
33	33	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
34	34	Section 1. Section 34-13A-3, Code of Alabama 1975, is
35	35	amended to read as follows:
36	36	"§34-13A-3
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64	64	28 HB293 INTRODUCED
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66	66	"§34-13A-3
67	67	(a) The State Board of Genetic Counseling is created to
68	68	implement and administer this chapter.
69	69	(b) The membership of the board shall consist of all of
70	70	the following:
71	71	(1) One individual appointed by the Department of
72	72	Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.
73	73	(2) Four individuals who practice genetic counseling in
74	74	Alabama and who hold a master's degree or doctoral degree in
75	75	genetic counseling from an ACGC or ABMGG accredited training
76	76	program, or an equivalent program approved by the ACGC or the
77	77	ABMGG, appointed by the Governor.
78	78	(3) One physician appointed by the Medical Association
79	79	of the State of Alabama.
80	80	(4) One physician appointed by the State Board of
81	81	Medical Examiners.
82	82	(5) One physician who specializes in pediatric genetics
83	83	appointed by the Lieutenant Governor.
84	84	(6) One physician appointed by the Speaker of the House
85	85	of Representatives.
86	86	(c) Board members appointed by the Governor shall serve
87	87	for terms of two years and, upon the expiration of a term, may
88	88	continue to serve until replaced or reappointed. All other
89	89	board members shall serve until they are replaced by their
90	90	respective appointing authority.
91	91	(d) The board shall annually elect from its membership
92	92	a chair, a vice chair, and a secretary.
93	93	(e) The appointing authorities shall coordinate their
94	94	appointments to assure the board membership is inclusive and
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124	124	appointments to assure the board membership is inclusive and
125	125	reflects the racial, gender, geographic, urban, rural, and
126	126	economic diversity of this state.
127	127	(f) Unless acting unreasonably or in bad faith, no
128	128	member of the board shall be civilly liable for acting within
129	129	the scope of his or her duties as a board member.
130	130	(g) Members of the board shall serve without
131	131	compensation but, to the extent funds are available, may
132	132	receive the same per diem and travel allowance as state
133	133	employees.
134	134	(h)(1) Except as provided in subdivision (2)
135	135	Notwithstanding the Alabama Open Meetings Act, Chapter 25A of
136	136	Title 36, all members of the board may participate in a
137	137	regular any meeting of the board by means of telephone
138	138	conference, video conference, or similar communications
139	139	equipment pursuant to the Alabama Open Meetings Act, Chapter
140	140	25A of Title 36.
141	141	(2) Members of the board may only participate in a
142	142	meeting of the board relating to a disciplinary action in
143	143	person."
144	144	Section 2. This act shall become effective on October
145	145	1, 2025.
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