Alabama 2025 Regular Session

Alabama Senate Bill SB325 Compare Versions

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

Old	New	Differences
1	1	SB325INTRODUCED
2	2	Page 0
3	3	SB325
4	4	KXQEU5U-1
5	5	By Senator Barfoot
6	6	RFD: Judiciary
7	7	First Read: 10-Apr-25
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12	12	5 KXQEU5U-1 02/03/2025 CMH (L)bm 2025-212
13	13	Page 1
14	14	First Read: 10-Apr-25
15	15	SYNOPSIS:
16	16	Under existing law, the Alabama Youth
17	17	Residential Facility Abuse Prevention Act requires
18	18	certain youth residential facilities that house youth
19	19	to register with the State Department of Human
20	20	Resources.
21	21	This bill would require youth residential
22	22	facilities to provide additional information when
23	23	registering with the State Department of Human
24	24	Resources.
25	25	This bill would require youth residential
26	26	facilities to maintain certain records and would
27	27	require disclosure of the records in certain
28	28	circumstances.
29	29	Under current law, law enforcement agencies may
30	30	access the private property of youth residential
31	31	facilities to investigate abuse or neglect, or for any
32	32	other lawful purpose.
33	33	This bill would provide that it is unlawful for
34	34	an individual to refuse to comply with a lawful request
35	35	from law enforcement agencies regarding an
36	36	investigation and would provide for penalties for
37	37	violations.
38	38	This bill would require youth residential
39	39	facilities to maintain video surveillance in all common
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69	69	facilities to maintain video surveillance in all common
70	70	areas and would require the retention of the video for
71	71	certain periods of time.
72	72	This bill would provide for civil penalties for
73	73	any youth residential facility that fails to adhere to
74	74	the requirements of the Alabama Youth Residential
75	75	Facility Abuse Prevention Act.
76	76	A BILL
77	77	TO BE ENTITLED
78	78	AN ACT
79	79	Relating to the Alabama Youth Residential Facility
80	80	Abuse Prevention Act; to amend Sections 38-15-3, 38-15-4,
81	81	38-15-5, 38-15-7, and 38-15-8, Code of Alabama 1975, and to
82	82	add Section 38-15-9.1 to the Code of Alabama 1975, to require
83	83	youth residential facilities to provide additional information
84	84	when registering with the State Department of Human Resources;
85	85	to require youth residential facilities to maintain certain
86	86	records of participants and to disclose certain records in
87	87	certain circumstances; to provide that it is unlawful for an
88	88	individual to refuse to comply with a law enforcement agency
89	89	investigating an allegation of abuse or neglect and to provide
90	90	for criminal penalties; to require youth residential
91	91	facilities to maintain video surveillance in certain areas and
92	92	provide for the retention of the video; and to provide for
93	93	civil penalties for any youth residential facility that fails
94	94	to adhere to the requirements of the Alabama Youth Residential
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124	124	to adhere to the requirements of the Alabama Youth Residential
125	125	Facility Abuse Prevention Act.
126	126	BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:
127	127	Section 1. Sections 38-15-3, 38-15-4, 38-15-5, 38-15-7,
128	128	and 38-15-8, Code of Alabama 1975, are amended to read as
129	129	follows:
130	130	"§38-15-3
131	131	For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms
132	132	shall have the following meanings:
133	133	(1) CHILD. A person under the age of 18 years.
134	134	(2)(1) COMMUNITY TREATMENT FACILITY FOR YOUTHS. A
135	135	religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit,
136	136	or for profitfor-profit youth residential facility that
137	137	provides mental health treatment services to childrenyouth in
138	138	a group setting and that has the capacity to provide secure
139	139	containment.
140	140	(3)(2) DEPARTMENT. The State Department of Human
141	141	Resources.
142	142	(4)(3) DIRECTOR. The Director of the State Department
143	143	of Human Resources.
144	144	(5) LONG TERM(4) LONG-TERM YOUTH RESIDENTIAL FACILITY.
145	145	A religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit, other
146	146	nonprofit, or for profit long term for-profit long-term
147	147	residential facility, group care facility, or similar facility
148	148	as determined by the director, providingthat provides 24-hour
149	149	nonmedical care of youth in need of personal services,
150	150	supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining the
151	151	activities of daily living or for the protection of the
152	152	childyouth and others, and that has the capacity to provide
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182	182	childyouth and others, and that has the capacity to provide
183	183	secure containment.
184	184	(6)(5) PRIVATE ALTERNATIVE BOARDING SCHOOL. A
185	185	religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit,
186	186	or for profitfor-profit group home that provides childrenyouth
187	187	with 24-hour residential care and supervision, which, in
188	188	addition to providing educational services, provides, or holds
189	189	itself out as providing, behavioral-based services to youth
190	190	with social, emotional, or behavioral issues and that has the
191	191	capacity to provide secure containment.
192	192	(7)(6) PRIVATE ALTERNATIVE OUTDOOR PROGRAM. A
193	193	religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit,
194	194	or for profitfor-profit group home or residential facility
195	195	that provides childrenyouth with 24-hour residential care and
196	196	supervision, which provides, or holds itself out as providing,
197	197	behavioral-based services in an outdoor living setting to
198	198	childrenyouth with social or behavioral issues and that has
199	199	the capacity to provide secure containment or prohibits
200	200	childrenyouth from freely leaving the area of operations for
201	201	the program.
202	202	(8)(7) RESTRICTIVE BEHAVIOR PRACTICES. Any
203	203	institutional practice or procedure that involves assisting a
204	204	childyouth in gaining control of his or her behavior, protects
205	205	a childyouth from self-harm, protects other childrenyouth or
206	206	staff members, or prevents the destruction of property.
207	207	(8) YOUTH. Any person eight years of age or older and
208	208	less than 19 years of age.
209	209	(9) YOUTH RESIDENTIAL FACILITY. Any community treatment
210	210	facility for youths, long-term youth residential facility,
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240	240	facility for youths, long-term youth residential facility,
241	241	private alternative boarding school, private alternative
242	242	outdoor program, youth social rehabilitation facility, youth
243	243	transitional care facility, or any other organization
244	244	entrusted with the residential care of youths in any
245	245	organizational form or combination, whenever a youth is housed
246	246	at the facility or location of the program for a period of
247	247	more than 24 hours.
248	248	(9)(10) YOUTH SOCIAL REHABILITATION FACILITY. A
249	249	religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit,
250	250	or for profitfor-profit residential facility that provides
251	251	24-hour nonmedical social rehabilitation services in a group
252	252	setting to childrenyouth recovering from mental illness or
253	253	substance abuse who are in need of temporary assistance,
254	254	guidance, or counseling and that has the capacity to provide
255	255	secure containment.
256	256	(10)(11) YOUTH TRANSITIONAL CARE FACILITY. A religious,
257	257	faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit, or for
258	258	profitfor-profit group care facility that provides 24-hour
259	259	nonmedical care of childrenyouth in need of professional
260	260	services, supervision, or assistance essential for sustaining
261	261	the activities of daily living or for the protection of the
262	262	individualyouth or others and that have the capacity to
263	263	provide secure containment."
264	264	"§38-15-4
265	265	(a) Commencing on January 1, 2018, the department shall
266	266	register any religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit,
267	267	other nonprofit, or for profit affiliated youth residential
268	268	facility, youth social rehabilitation facility, community
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298	298	facility, youth social rehabilitation facility, community
299	299	treatment facility for youths, youth transitional care
300	300	facility, long term youth residential facility, private
301	301	alternative boarding school, private alternative outdoor
302	302	program, and any organization entrusted with the residential
303	303	care of children in any organizational form or combination
304	304	defined by this section, whenever children are housed at the
305	305	facility or location of the program for a period of more than
306	306	24 hours.Any youth residential facility shall register with
307	307	the department within 60 days of the facility beginning
308	308	operation and shall renew the registration by December 31
309	309	every year thereafter. The registration shall include, but not
310	310	be limited to, all of the following:
311	311	(1) The proper legal name and corporate legal structure
312	312	of the facility.
313	313	(2) A statement of whether the facility is for-profit
314	314	or nonprofit. If the facility is for-profit, the name of all
315	315	individuals or entities who receive the profits. If the
316	316	facility is nonprofit, the names of any associated
317	317	organizations and any members of management or directors that
318	318	provide substantial services or direction to the facility.
319	319	(3) If the facility was engaged in substantially the
320	320	same activities within the previous three years, the previous
321	321	proper legal name, corporate legal structure, and the
322	322	identification of any members of management or directors who
323	323	were involved with the operation of the previous facility.
324	324	(4) A list of all other similar facilities within this
325	325	state operated by the facility.
326	326	(5) A list of all board members, directors, and any
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356	356	(5) A list of all board members, directors, and any
357	357	individuals with decision-making authority over the facility.
358	358	(6) All manuals, plans, and reports required by this
359	359	chapter, including any annual updates.
360	360	(7) The total number of youth that were housed or
361	361	treated at the facility during the calendar year, broken down
362	362	by the source of facility's yearly income of private payer,
363	363	insurance, welfare, or other sources.
364	364	(8) A copy of all advertisements, printed, digital, or
365	365	otherwise, used or produced by the facility.
366	366	(b) At a minimum, a registered youth residential
367	367	institution or organization under this section facility shall
368	368	do all of the following:
369	369	(1) Be owned and operated on a for profitfor-profit or
370	370	nonprofit basis.
371	371	(2) Prepare and maintain a current, written plan of
372	372	operation, as defined by the department.
373	373	(3) Offer 24-hour , nonmedical care and supervision to
374	374	youth who are voluntarily admitted by a parent or legal
375	375	guardian, or referred by a court.
376	376	(4) Admit only children 12 years of age or older youth.
377	377	(5) Provide written notification on a standard form to
378	378	the department or local county Department of Human Resources
379	379	office where the facility is located within 48 hours of the
380	380	arrival, enrollment, or admittance of any childyouth to the
381	381	institution, facility, or program as directed by the
382	382	department.
383	383	(6) Have a ratio of at least one staff person to every
384	384	four youthsyouth.
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414	414	four youthsyouth.
415	415	(7) Provide each prospective youth and his or her
416	416	parent or legal guardian with an accurate written description
417	417	of the programs and services to be provided while the
418	418	childyouth is a resident at the facility. If itthe description
419	419	advertises or promotes special care, programs, or environments
420	420	for persons with behavioral, emotional, substance abuse, or
421	421	social challenges, the written description shall include how
422	422	its programs and services are intended to achieve the
423	423	advertised or promoted claims.
424	424	(8) Ensure that all individuals providing mental health
425	425	or behavioral-based services to youth at the facility are
426	426	licensed or certified by the appropriate agency, department,
427	427	or accrediting body, as specified by the department through
428	428	agency rules.
429	429	(9) Prepare and implement a comprehensive health plan
430	430	to ensure that each medical, dental, mental health, and other
431	431	health needs of the childyouth are met adequately and
432	432	promptly.
433	433	(10) Explain its disciplinary practices individually
434	434	with each childyouth at the time the childyouth is placed or
435	435	enrolled in the institution, facility, or program.
436	436	(11) Obtain written consent for the use of any
437	437	restrictive behavior management practice from the
438	438	parentsparent or legal guardian of the childyouth.
439	439	(12) NotPrevent the use of secure containment or manual
440	440	or mechanical restraints.
441	441	(13) Not allowPrevent the performance of any acts,
442	442	tactics, techniques, or procedures for purposes of abusing,
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472	472	tactics, techniques, or procedures for purposes of abusing,
473	473	humiliating, degrading, isolating, or ostracizing a childyouth
474	474	from other childrenyouth located or housed at the institution,
475	475	facility, or program by any staff member or childyouth.
476	476	(14) Not utilizePrevent restrictive behavior management
477	477	practices as a means of punishment , for the convenience of
478	478	staff members, or as a substitute for a treatment program.
479	479	(15) Ensure that each childyouth is provided with three
480	480	nutritious meals daily, either at the institution, facility,
481	481	program operations site itself, or in the community.
482	482	(16) Select, store, prepare, and serve food in a
483	483	sanitary and palatable manner.
484	484	(17) Ensure that every childyouth is afforded the
485	485	opportunity to participate freely in religious activities and
486	486	or services in accordance with his or her own faith or with
487	487	that of his or her parentsparent or legal guardian .
488	488	(18) Maintain a bond or liability insurance of no less
489	489	than five hundred thousand one million dollars
490	490	($500,000)($1,000,000) per incident and show proof of the
491	491	current status of the policy or bond prior to registration
492	492	bywith the department.
493	493	(19) Include its facility , institution, or program
494	494	registration number in all advertisements.
495	495	(20) Require that all employees of the facility or
496	496	program undergo a child abuse and neglect clearance and a
497	497	criminal background check prior to the approval of the
498	498	registration of the facility or program and require that all
499	499	employees obtain a criminal background check and child abuse
500	500	and neglect clearance annually thereafter.
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530	530	and neglect clearance annually thereafter.
531	531	(21) Ensure that prior to employment, residence, or
532	532	initial presence in the facility , institution, or with the
533	533	program, all employees undergo a criminal background check.
534	534	(22) Maintain a smoke free environment in all buildings
535	535	on the facility, institution, or program premises and in all
536	536	vehicles used to transport childrenyouth.
537	537	(23) Obtain a fire safety clearance approved by the
538	538	local fire authority.
539	539	(24) If it offers access to, or holds itself out as
540	540	offering access to, mental health services, ensure Ensure that
541	541	thosemental health services are provided by a licensed mental
542	542	health provider.
543	543	(25) If it advertises or includes in its marketing
544	544	materials reference to providing Ensure that alcohol or
545	545	substance abuse treatment , ensure that the treatment is being
546	546	provided by a licensed or certified alcoholism or drug abuse
547	547	recovery or treatment facility.
548	548	(26) Not admit a childyouth who has been assessed by a
549	549	licensed mental health professional as seriously emotionally
550	550	disturbed, unless the childyouth does not require care in a
551	551	licensed health facility and the State Department of Mental
552	552	Health has certified that the facility houses a program that
553	553	meets the standards to provide mental health treatment
554	554	services for a childyouth having a serious emotional
555	555	disturbance, as defined in Alabama Medicaid Agency Rule
556	556	290-8-9560-X-40-.01 of the Alabama Administrative Code.
557	557	(27) Immediately provide a written report on a standard
558	558	form to the department and the local law enforcement agency of
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588	588	form to the department and the local law enforcement agency of
589	589	all fatalities and accidents requiring hospitalization or
590	590	medical care by a physician occurring at the facility ,
591	591	institution, or program .
592	592	(28) Prohibit any staff member or child to possess youth
593	593	from possessing any firearms, harmful chemicals, or other
594	594	weapons within or on the grounds of the institution, facility,
595	595	or program.
596	596	(b)(c) As Submit a staff training plan to the
597	597	department as part of its plan of operation , as required in
598	598	subdivision (b)(2), any youth residential facility shall also
599	599	submit a staff training plan to the department . In addition to
600	600	the training required of facility , institutional, or program
601	601	staff, the staff training plan shall include, but not be
602	602	limited to, training in all of the following subject areas:
603	603	(1) Children'sYouth's rights, as described in
604	604	subsection (c)(d).
605	605	(2) Physical and psycho-social needs of youth.
606	606	(3) Appropriate responses to emergencies, including an
607	607	emergency intervention plan.
608	608	(4) Laws and regulationsrules pertaining to residential
609	609	care and housing facilities for childrenyouth.
610	610	(c)(1)(d) Any childyouth that is enrolled in or a
611	611	resident of a religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit,
612	612	other nonprofit, or for profit affiliated youth residential
613	613	facility, youth social rehabilitation facility, community
614	614	treatment facility for youths, youth transitional care
615	615	facility, long term youth residential facility, private
616	616	alternative boarding school, private alternative outdoor
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646	646	alternative boarding school, private alternative outdoor
647	647	program, and any organization entrusted with the residential
648	648	care of children in any organizational form or combination
649	649	defined by this section youth residential facility shall be
650	650	afforded the following rights and any other rights adopted by
651	651	the department through rule, which shall be publicly posted
652	652	and accessible to youth:
653	653	a.(1) To be afforded dignity in his or her personal
654	654	relationships with staff, youth, and other personsindividuals.
655	655	b.(2) To live in a safe, healthy, and comfortable
656	656	environment where he or she is treated with respect.
657	657	c.(3) To be free from physical, sexual, emotional, or
658	658	other abuse or corporal punishment.
659	659	d.(4) To be granted a reasonable level of personal
660	660	privacy in accommodations, personal care and, assistance, and
661	661	visits.
662	662	e.(5) To receive confidential care of his or her
663	663	records and personal information, and to approve any release
664	664	of those records prior to the release of them, except as
665	665	otherwise authorized or required by law.
666	666	f.(6) To receive care, supervision, and services that
667	667	meet his or her individual needs and that are delivered by
668	668	staff who are sufficient in numbers, qualifications number,
669	669	qualification, and competency to meet his or her needs and
670	670	ensure his or her safety.
671	671	g.(7) To be served food and beverages of the quality
672	672	and in the quantity necessary to meet his or her nutritional
673	673	and physical needs.
674	674	h.1.(8) To present grievances and recommend changes in
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683	683	317
684	684	318
685	685	319
686	686	320
687	687	321
688	688	322
689	689	323
690	690	324
691	691	325
692	692	326
693	693	327
694	694	328
695	695	329
696	696	330
697	697	331
698	698	332
699	699	333
700	700	334
701	701	335
702	702	336 SB325 INTRODUCED
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704	704	h.1.(8) To present grievances and recommend changes in
705	705	policies, procedures, and services to the facility's staff,
706	706	management, and governing authority, or any other person
707	707	individual without the possibility of restraint, coercion,
708	708	discrimination, reprisal, threat, or other retaliatory
709	709	actions.
710	710	2. To and to have the registered entity take prompt
711	711	actions to respond to grievancesany grievance presented
712	712	pursuant to subparagraph 1 .
713	713	i.(9) To be able to contact parents or legal guardians,
714	714	including visits and, scheduled and unscheduled private
715	715	telephone conversations, written correspondence, and other
716	716	electronic communications, unless prohibited by court order.
717	717	j.(10) To be fully informed, as evidenced by the
718	718	youth's written acknowledgment, prior to, or at the time of,
719	719	arrival or admission to the facility , institution, or program,
720	720	of the rules governing the youth's rights, conduct, and
721	721	responsibilities.
722	722	k.(11) To receive in the admission agreement detailed
723	723	information that detailsregarding the planned programs and
724	724	services for the youth.
725	725	l.(12) To have his or her parents or legal guardians
726	726	remove him or her from the facility at any time unless
727	727	prevented from doing so by a court order.
728	728	m.(13) To consent to have visitors or telephone calls
729	729	during reasonable hours, privately and without prior notice,
730	730	if the visitors or telephone calls do not disrupt planned
731	731	activities and are not prohibited by court order or by the
732	732	youth's parent or legal guardian.
733	733	337
734	734	338
735	735	339
736	736	340
737	737	341
738	738	342
739	739	343
740	740	344
741	741	345
742	742	346
743	743	347
744	744	348
745	745	349
746	746	350
747	747	351
748	748	352
749	749	353
750	750	354
751	751	355
752	752	356
753	753	357
754	754	358
755	755	359
756	756	360
757	757	361
758	758	362
759	759	363
760	760	364 SB325 INTRODUCED
761	761	Page 14
762	762	youth's parent or legal guardian.
763	763	n.(14) To be free offrom corporal punishment, excessive
764	764	medication, physical restraints of any kind, and deprivation
765	765	of basic necessities, and unnecessary seclusion
766	766	includingwhether for education, as a punishment, deterrent, or
767	767	incentive.
768	768	o.(15) To be afforded the opportunity to enroll in,
769	769	make progress toward, and complete a program leading to a
770	770	General Education Development Certificate or other high school
771	771	diploma equivalent uponafter being housed or located at the
772	772	facility, institution, or program for a period of more than 30
773	773	days.
774	774	p.(16) To have fair and equal access to all available
775	775	services, placement, care, treatment, and benefits and to not
776	776	be subjected to discrimination or harassment on the basis of
777	777	actual or perceived race, ethnic group identification,
778	778	ancestry, national origin, color, religion, sex, mental or
779	779	physical disability, or physical condition.
780	780	q.(17) To be free from abusive, humiliating, degrading,
781	781	or traumatizing actions.
782	782	r.(18) To be free to attend religious services of
783	783	theirhis or her choice.
784	784	s.(19) Any other rights the department adopts by rule;
785	785	however, the department is not responsible or liable for
786	786	violation of the above rights established under this
787	787	subsection, including acts or omissions by facility employees.
788	788	(2)(e) This section shalldoes not apply to any facility
789	789	administered, or operated, licensed, or certified by the State
790	790	Department of Education, Department of Corrections, Department
791	791	365
792	792	366
793	793	367
794	794	368
795	795	369
796	796	370
797	797	371
798	798	372
799	799	373
800	800	374
801	801	375
802	802	376
803	803	377
804	804	378
805	805	379
806	806	380
807	807	381
808	808	382
809	809	383
810	810	384
811	811	385
812	812	386
813	813	387
814	814	388
815	815	389
816	816	390
817	817	391
818	818	392 SB325 INTRODUCED
819	819	Page 15
820	820	Department of Education, Department of Corrections, Department
821	821	of Youth Services, the Military Department of Veterans
822	822	Affairs, state recognized military academies, institutes, or
823	823	boot camps, the Alabama School of Mathematics and Science,
824	824	Alabama School of Fine Arts, any state school for the deaf or
825	825	blind, or any other governmental entity or to a school that
826	826	does not require residency as requirement for services
827	827	provided. This section further shalldoes not apply to outdoor
828	828	activities for youth designed to be primarily recreational or
829	829	for entertainment, including, but not limited to, any camp
830	830	inspected and permitted by the Alabama Department of Public
831	831	Health, activities organized by Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Camp
832	832	Fire, or other similar church sponsored organizations, or any
833	833	camp exclusively serving children with a medical diagnosis for
834	834	a physical condition or illness, or any runaway or homeless
835	835	shelter, or any similar place that supplies room and or board
836	836	only, provided that the resident is free to leave that
837	837	facility by his or her own volition at any time.
838	838	(3)(f) The Department of Public Health shall regularly
839	839	license and inspect the food preparation areas of the
840	840	facilities under this statute for health and safety purposes.
841	841	(g)(1) All intake papers, treatment notes, disciplinary
842	842	records, and any other written or electronic data produced
843	843	regarding a youth at a youth residential facility must be
844	844	stored for a minimum of six years after the discharge of the
845	845	youth or until the youth turns 21 years of age, whichever
846	846	occurs last.
847	847	(2) All records, at a minimum, shall be searchable by
848	848	the name of the youth.
849	849	393
850	850	394
851	851	395
852	852	396
853	853	397
854	854	398
855	855	399
856	856	400
857	857	401
858	858	402
859	859	403
860	860	404
861	861	405
862	862	406
863	863	407
864	864	408
865	865	409
866	866	410
867	867	411
868	868	412
869	869	413
870	870	414
871	871	415
872	872	416
873	873	417
874	874	418
875	875	419
876	876	420 SB325 INTRODUCED
877	877	Page 16
878	878	the name of the youth.
879	879	(3) The youth, or his or her parent or guardian, must
880	880	be provided all records upon a written request to the
881	881	custodian of the records.
882	882	(h) All records and inspections created regarding a
883	883	youth residential facility shall be made public, with the
884	884	names of the youth, dates of birth, and Social Security
885	885	numbers redacted. The reports must be made public no later
886	886	than six months after each report is generated. All documents
887	887	shall remain accessible to the public for a period of not less
888	888	than five years.
889	889	(i)(1) Each youth residential facility shall maintain
890	890	video surveillance in all common areas, and the recordings
891	891	shall be kept for a minimum of 30 days. Should the recording
892	892	capture any incident requiring reporting under this chapter or
893	893	the commission of a crime, the recordings shall be maintained
894	894	for a minimum of one year and shall capture, at a minimum,
895	895	three hours before and after the incident.
896	896	(2) The recordings of any incidents shall be provided
897	897	to law enforcement agencies and to any individual pursuant to
898	898	a court order.
899	899	(3) Upon a written demand for preservation, the youth
900	900	residential facility shall preserve the recordings for up to
901	901	an additional year. The youth residential facility may charge
902	902	a reasonable fee for the storage of the recording, not to
903	903	exceed five hundred dollars ($500).
904	904	(4)(j)(1) Law enforcement agencies shall have access to
905	905	the private property of the youth residential facilities under
906	906	this statutechapter in furtherance of their duties to
907	907	421
908	908	422
909	909	423
910	910	424
911	911	425
912	912	426
913	913	427
914	914	428
915	915	429
916	916	430
917	917	431
918	918	432
919	919	433
920	920	434
921	921	435
922	922	436
923	923	437
924	924	438
925	925	439
926	926	440
927	927	441
928	928	442
929	929	443
930	930	444
931	931	445
932	932	446
933	933	447
934	934	448 SB325 INTRODUCED
935	935	Page 17
936	936	this statutechapter in furtherance of their duties to
937	937	investigate abuse or neglect, or for any other lawful purpose.
938	938	Upon receiving a complaint of abuse or neglect, the law
939	939	enforcement agency shall speak with the youth in person and,
940	940	if possible, schedule the youth for a forensic interview as
941	941	soon as practicable.
942	942	(2) An individual who refuses to comply with a lawful
943	943	request by a law enforcement officer pursuant to subdivision
944	944	(1) shall be guilty of a Class B misdemeanor. "
945	945	"§38-15-5
946	946	Any employee, volunteer, or applicant for employment or
947	947	for a volunteer position at or with any religious,
948	948	faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit, or for
949	949	profit affiliated youth residential facility, youth social
950	950	rehabilitation facility, community treatment facility for
951	951	youths, youth transitional care facility, long term youth
952	952	residential facility, private alternative boarding school,
953	953	private alternative outdoor program, and any organization
954	954	entrusted with the residential care of children or youth in
955	955	any organizational form or combination thereof defined by this
956	956	section, or as defined by the department, youth residential
957	957	facility shall be subject to a criminal background
958	958	investigation prior to having unsupervised contact with the
959	959	children in accordance with subdivision (1) of subsection (a)
960	960	ofany youth and annually thereafter pursuant to Section
961	961	38-13-3."
962	962	"§38-15-7
963	963	(a) All youth residential facilities and organizations
964	964	under this section shall be subject to a quarterly inspection
965	965	449
966	966	450
967	967	451
968	968	452
969	969	453
970	970	454
971	971	455
972	972	456
973	973	457
974	974	458
975	975	459
976	976	460
977	977	461
978	978	462
979	979	463
980	980	464
981	981	465
982	982	466
983	983	467
984	984	468
985	985	469
986	986	470
987	987	471
988	988	472
989	989	473
990	990	474
991	991	475
992	992	476 SB325 INTRODUCED
993	993	Page 18
994	994	under this section shall be subject to a quarterly inspection
995	995	by the department or its designee at a minimum and shall be
996	996	responsible for providing necessary information as determined
997	997	by the department to ensure the safety and welfare of
998	998	residents. All youth residential facilities and organizations
999	999	under this chapter shall provide at a minimum the following to
1000	1000	the department upon request:
1001	1001	(1) The names of all childrenyouth currently enrolled,
1002	1002	registered, or housed at the facility or program.
1003	1003	(2) The names of all personnel currently employed or
1004	1004	contracted for employment for or at the facility , institution,
1005	1005	or program.
1006	1006	(3) The plan of operation, all written policies,
1007	1007	procedures, and standard practices.
1008	1008	(4) The childyouth-to-staff ratios.
1009	1009	(5) The staff qualifications and proof of training.
1010	1010	(6) Proof of the implementation of childrens'youth's
1011	1011	needs and services plan.
1012	1012	(7) A written fire evacuation and natural disaster plan
1013	1013	and maintain a record of routine drills of the plan.
1014	1014	(8) Proof of liability insurance with coverage of no
1015	1015	less than the amount specified in subdivision (18) of
1016	1016	subsection (a) of Section 38-15-4(b)(18).
1017	1017	(9) Proof of immunization against disease of all
1018	1018	childrenyouth housed or contained at the facility or in the
1019	1019	program with proof of exemption of a child due to parental
1020	1020	beliefs, which exemption shall be permitted.
1021	1021	(b) All youth residential facilities and organizations
1022	1022	under this section shall inform the parentsparent or
1023	1023	477
1024	1024	478
1025	1025	479
1026	1026	480
1027	1027	481
1028	1028	482
1029	1029	483
1030	1030	484
1031	1031	485
1032	1032	486
1033	1033	487
1034	1034	488
1035	1035	489
1036	1036	490
1037	1037	491
1038	1038	492
1039	1039	493
1040	1040	494
1041	1041	495
1042	1042	496
1043	1043	497
1044	1044	498
1045	1045	499
1046	1046	500
1047	1047	501
1048	1048	502
1049	1049	503
1050	1050	504 SB325 INTRODUCED
1051	1051	Page 19
1052	1052	under this section shall inform the parentsparent or
1053	1053	authorizedlegal guardian or adult representative of the
1054	1054	childyouth of their rights including the following at a
1055	1055	minimum:
1056	1056	(1) To enter and inspect the facility , institution, or
1057	1057	program as determined by law.
1058	1058	(2) To file a complaint against the registered
1059	1059	entityfacility with the department without discrimination
1060	1060	against the parent , legal guardian, or the childyouth housed
1061	1061	by or located at the facility or program.
1062	1062	(3) To view the child'syouth's records associated with
1063	1063	the facility, institution, or program including treatment,
1064	1064	disciplinary, and other actions the department determines to
1065	1065	be vital to his or her situational awareness as a parent or
1066	1066	legal guardian.
1067	1067	(4) To review the registered entity's facility's public
1068	1068	file at the appropriate department online site or physical
1069	1069	location.
1070	1070	(5) To view the prominently displayed list of child or
1071	1071	youth rights associated with this chapter or those enumerated
1072	1072	per department rules.
1073	1073	(6) To view copies of any report that documents any
1074	1074	finding of noncompliance by the department.
1075	1075	(7) To view copies of any documentation issued to the
1076	1076	registered entity facility documenting the department's intent
1077	1077	to revoke the registration approval of the facility ,
1078	1078	institution, or program ."
1079	1079	"§38-15-8
1080	1080	(a) On or before January 1, 2018, the The department
1081	1081	505
1082	1082	506
1083	1083	507
1084	1084	508
1085	1085	509
1086	1086	510
1087	1087	511
1088	1088	512
1089	1089	513
1090	1090	514
1091	1091	515
1092	1092	516
1093	1093	517
1094	1094	518
1095	1095	519
1096	1096	520
1097	1097	521
1098	1098	522
1099	1099	523
1100	1100	524
1101	1101	525
1102	1102	526
1103	1103	527
1104	1104	528
1105	1105	529
1106	1106	530
1107	1107	531
1108	1108	532 SB325 INTRODUCED
1109	1109	Page 20
1110	1110	(a) On or before January 1, 2018, the The department
1111	1111	shall adopt rules to implement this chapter, in consultation
1112	1112	with interested parties, including representatives of any
1113	1113	institution with any combination of organizational
1114	1114	characteristics defined by this section youth residential
1115	1115	facility, former residents of long-term youth residential
1116	1116	facilities, advocates for youth, and privateother concerned
1117	1117	parties. Until rules are adopted by the department and become
1118	1118	effective any existing child or youth residential
1119	1119	organization, facility, institution, boarding school, or
1120	1120	program operating in this state shall be governed by the rules
1121	1121	applicable to residential care facilities regulated by the
1122	1122	Department of Human Resources pursuant to published minimum
1123	1123	standards for residential child care facilities. Any
1124	1124	institution, facility, or program subject to this chapter,
1125	1125	operating prior to January 1, 2018, shall comply with the
1126	1126	department's registration requirements on or before July 1,
1127	1127	2017.
1128	1128	(b) The department may adopt emergency rules to
1129	1129	implement this section.
1130	1130	(c) The department shall have the authority to may act
1131	1131	in loco parentis for any childyouth covered under this section
1132	1132	in need of immediate health, welfare, protective, or other
1133	1133	critical services until that child'syouth's parent or guardian
1134	1134	can be contacted and is able to make those decisions in the
1135	1135	interest of the childyouth.
1136	1136	(d) No religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit,
1137	1137	other nonprofit, or for profit affiliated youth residential
1138	1138	facility, youth social rehabilitation facility, community
1139	1139	533
1140	1140	534
1141	1141	535
1142	1142	536
1143	1143	537
1144	1144	538
1145	1145	539
1146	1146	540
1147	1147	541
1148	1148	542
1149	1149	543
1150	1150	544
1151	1151	545
1152	1152	546
1153	1153	547
1154	1154	548
1155	1155	549
1156	1156	550
1157	1157	551
1158	1158	552
1159	1159	553
1160	1160	554
1161	1161	555
1162	1162	556
1163	1163	557
1164	1164	558
1165	1165	559
1166	1166	560 SB325 INTRODUCED
1167	1167	Page 21
1168	1168	facility, youth social rehabilitation facility, community
1169	1169	treatment facility for youths, youth transitional care
1170	1170	facility, long term youth residential facility, private
1171	1171	alternative boarding school, private alternative outdoor
1172	1172	program, and any organization entrusted with the residential
1173	1173	care of children in any organizational form or combination
1174	1174	defined by this section youth residential facility may operate
1175	1175	in this state without a current registration approval from the
1176	1176	department.
1177	1177	(e)(1) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a
1178	1178	religious, faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit,
1179	1179	or for profit residential, rehabilitation, community
1180	1180	treatment, transitional care facility, or private alternative
1181	1181	boarding school or outdoor program youth residential facility
1182	1182	that utilizes religious, prayer, or spiritual means as the
1183	1183	basis for its program or services from providing those
1184	1184	services in accordance with its religious beliefs. Any such
1185	1185	facility or program shall youth residential facility must
1186	1186	include in its advertising that it bases its services or
1187	1187	treatment on religious principles . Such facility or program
1188	1188	shall and must provide to any applicant a detailed explanation
1189	1189	of its faith-based programs. Such facility or program A youth
1190	1190	residential facility may require participants to participate
1191	1191	in these programs, notwithstanding any other provision of this
1192	1192	chapter.
1193	1193	(2) This chapter shalldoes not give the department the
1194	1194	authority to regulate or prohibit religious-based treatment;
1195	1195	provided, however, the treatment shall not be used to violate
1196	1196	or circumvent any of the other requirements of this chapter
1197	1197	561
1198	1198	562
1199	1199	563
1200	1200	564
1201	1201	565
1202	1202	566
1203	1203	567
1204	1204	568
1205	1205	569
1206	1206	570
1207	1207	571
1208	1208	572
1209	1209	573
1210	1210	574
1211	1211	575
1212	1212	576
1213	1213	577
1214	1214	578
1215	1215	579
1216	1216	580
1217	1217	581
1218	1218	582
1219	1219	583
1220	1220	584
1221	1221	585
1222	1222	586
1223	1223	587
1224	1224	588 SB325 INTRODUCED
1225	1225	Page 22
1226	1226	or circumvent any of the other requirements of this chapter
1227	1227	related to the physical safety and condition of any childyouth
1228	1228	or the condition of the facility.
1229	1229	(f) Nothing in this section shall prohibit a religious,
1230	1230	faith-based, or church nonprofit, other nonprofit, or for
1231	1231	profit residential, rehabilitation, community treatment, or
1232	1232	transitional care facility, or a private alternative boarding
1233	1233	school, or outdoor program that utilizes religious, prayer, or
1234	1234	spiritual means as the basis for its services from providing
1235	1235	those services in accordance with its religious beliefs.
1236	1236	(g) Nothing in this section shall give the department
1237	1237	the authority to regulate or prohibit religious-based
1238	1238	treatment or services, provided that, the treatment or
1239	1239	services are not in violation of any requirements of this
1240	1240	section as it relates to the safety and welfare of children.
1241	1241	(h)(f) Nothing in this section shall be construed or
1242	1242	interpreted to authorize any state agency to license or
1243	1243	regulate a non-residential private, nonpublic, church or
1244	1244	nonprofit school offering instruction in grades K-12, or any
1245	1245	combination thereof, that houses or contains children or youth
1246	1246	for a period of less than 24 hours."
1247	1247	Section 2. Section 38-15-9.1 is added to the Code of
1248	1248	Alabama 1975, to read as follows:
1249	1249	§38-15-9.1
1250	1250	(a) Upon an entry of judgment or decree for a violation
1251	1251	of this chapter, the court shall impose a civil penalty of not
1252	1252	less than ten thousand dollars ($10,000) and not to exceed
1253	1253	fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) per violation. The department
1254	1254	may issue a written notice of a violation and allow up to 15
1255	1255	589
1256	1256	590
1257	1257	591
1258	1258	592
1259	1259	593
1260	1260	594
1261	1261	595
1262	1262	596
1263	1263	597
1264	1264	598
1265	1265	599
1266	1266	600
1267	1267	601
1268	1268	602
1269	1269	603
1270	1270	604
1271	1271	605
1272	1272	606
1273	1273	607
1274	1274	608
1275	1275	609
1276	1276	610
1277	1277	611
1278	1278	612
1279	1279	613
1280	1280	614
1281	1281	615
1282	1282	616 SB325 INTRODUCED
1283	1283	Page 23
1284	1284	may issue a written notice of a violation and allow up to 15
1285	1285	days for the youth residential facility to correct the
1286	1286	violation in lieu of issuing a fine. The department shall make
1287	1287	publicly available the fines and notices issued each calendar
1288	1288	year, noting the violation and the youth residential facility
1289	1289	that was fined.
1290	1290	(b) Upon a showing to the court by the department that
1291	1291	a youth residential facility has engaged in continuous and
1292	1292	willful violations of this chapter or that the youth
1293	1293	residential facility has been fined more than three times in a
1294	1294	five-year period, the court may do either of the following:
1295	1295	(1) Suspend the license or certificate authorizing the
1296	1296	youth residential facility to engage in business in this
1297	1297	state.
1298	1298	(2) Enjoin the person from engaging in business in this
1299	1299	state.
1300	1300	(c) All penalties collected under subsection (a) shall
1301	1301	be remitted by the circuit court to the State Treasurer and
1302	1302	shall be credited to the account of the department.
1303	1303	(d)(1) In addition, any individual residing in, or who
1304	1304	has been in, a youth residential facility covered by this
1305	1305	chapter who is subjected to or witnesses a violation of this
1306	1306	chapter shall have a private cause of action against the youth
1307	1307	residential facility. Compensatory damages for each violation
1308	1308	shall be a minimum of ten thousand dollars ($10,000) as well
1309	1309	as reasonable court costs and attorney fees.
1310	1310	(2) If a youth residential facility is found liable on
1311	1311	more than three occasions within a five-year period, the
1312	1312	compensatory damages shall be doubled per new offense.
1313	1313	617
1314	1314	618
1315	1315	619
1316	1316	620
1317	1317	621
1318	1318	622
1319	1319	623
1320	1320	624
1321	1321	625
1322	1322	626
1323	1323	627
1324	1324	628
1325	1325	629
1326	1326	630
1327	1327	631
1328	1328	632
1329	1329	633
1330	1330	634
1331	1331	635
1332	1332	636
1333	1333	637
1334	1334	638
1335	1335	639
1336	1336	640
1337	1337	641
1338	1338	642
1339	1339	643
1340	1340	644 SB325 INTRODUCED
1341	1341	Page 24
1342	1342	compensatory damages shall be doubled per new offense.
1343	1343	(3) The statute of limitations for such a cause of
1344	1344	action is two years after the offense, or two years after the
1345	1345	youth reaches the age of majority, whichever occurs last.
1346	1346	Section 3. This act shall become effective on October
1347	1347	1, 2025.
1348	1348	645
1349	1349	646
1350	1350	647
1351	1351	648
1352	1352	649