Alabama 2023 Regular Session Status: In Committee 1 R cosponsors

HB 151 — Relating to health care facilities; to add Section 22-21-437 to the Code of Alabama 1975; to require health care facilities to adopt certain visitation policies; to provide that patients have a right to certain visitation; to allow patients to designate an essential caregiver and to guarantee that caregiver certain visitation rights; to prohibit a health care facility from adopting a visitation policy that is more stringent than certain employee policies; to prohibit a health care facility from requiring visitors to show proof of vaccination or from prohibiting consensual physical contact between visitors and patients; to provide for the circumstances in which patients may not be denied visitors who are not essential caregivers; to require health care facilities to provide visitation policies to the Department of Public Health; to require the Department of Public Health to develop a mechanism for complaints; to provide certain immunity from liability in certain circumstances; and to repeal Sections 22-21-430 through 22-21-436, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to hospital visitation during a public health emergency.

Last action — Read First Time in House of Origin

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  1. ✓
    Introduced
  2. 2
    In Committee
  3. 3
    Passed House
  4. 4
    Passed Senate
  5. 5
    To Executive
  6. 6
    Enacted

This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.

This bill is no longer active — its legislative session has ended, so there is no live prognosis. It would have to be reintroduced in the current session to move again.

In plain language

The bill requires health care facilities to adopt specific visitation policies for patients and their essential caregivers.

This legislation mandates that health care facilities establish visitation policies, ensuring patients have the right to visit with designated essential caregivers and prohibiting certain restrictions. It also involves reporting these policies to the Department of Public Health and develops a system for complaints.

What this means for you
  • Workers: Healthcare workers may see changes in visitation procedures and policies affecting their interactions with patients and visitors.
  • Families: This means families can visit their loved ones more freely and designate essential caregivers for better support.
  • Healthcare: Health care facilities must comply with new visitation standards and report their policies to the Department of Public Health.

Summary

Health care facilities, patient right to visitors and essential caregiver, provided; adoption of certain visitation standards, required; submission of visitation policies to Department of Public Health, required for licensure; certain immunity from liability, provided

Bill Text

How this bill changes current law

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AI-generated reading aid from the bill's amendatory text — verify against the official bill.

The bill repeals existing law on health care facility visitation and establishes new requirements for visitation policies that enhance patients' visitation rights.

  • Sections 22-21-430 through 22-21-436

    Sections 22-21-430 through 22-21-436, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to hospital visitation during a public health emergency.

    The bill repeals the existing regulations pertaining to hospital visitation during public health emergencies.

  • Section 22-21-437

    A resident, client, or patient of a health care facility shall have the right to be visited by any individual of his or her choosing during the facility's visiting hours.

    It grants patients the right to choose their visitors during designated visiting hours.

  • Section 22-21-437

    The provider shall allow in-person visitation by the essential caregiver for at least two hours daily in addition to any other visitation authorized by the facility.

    It ensures that essential caregivers can visit patients for at least two hours each day.

  • Section 22-21-437

    Safety-related policies and procedures may not be more stringent than those established for the provider's staff and may not require visitors to submit proof of any vaccination or immunization.

    It prohibits health care facilities from imposing visitor safety requirements that exceed those for their staff, including vaccination proof.

  • Section 22-21-437

    The policies and procedures must allow consensual physical contact between a resident, client, or patient and the visitor.

    It allows patients to have physical contact with their visitors.

  • Section 22-21-437

    The visitation policies and procedures required by this section must allow in-person visitation in all... end-of-life situations.

    It mandates that patients must be allowed visitors in critical circumstances, including end-of-life scenarios.

  • Section 22-21-437

    The Alabama Department of Public Health shall dedicate a stand-alone page on its website to explain the visitation requirements of this section and provide a link to the agency's webpage to report complaints.

    It requires the Department of Public Health to make visitation policies publicly accessible online.

Action History

  1. Introduced and Referred

Sponsors

Sponsorship breakdown

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1 sponsors · 0 co-sponsors · 139 not signed on

Sponsors (1)

Co-sponsors (0)

None.

Not signed on (139)

139 members have not signed on to this bill.

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"Not signed on" means a member has not sponsored or co-sponsored this bill — it does not imply opposition. Members flagged Voted No have a recorded No vote on this bill.

Whip count is in markup. Polling the chamber and every recorded vote this session. Only the first open is slow. It’s instant for you after this. Calling the roll · Tallying · Engrossing

Subjects

public-safety healthcare
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Frequently asked questions

What does HB 151 do?
Health care facilities, patient right to visitors and essential caregiver, provided; adoption of certain visitation standards, required; submission of visitation policies to Department of Public Health, required for licensure; certain immunity from liability, provided
Who sponsors HB 151?
HB 151 is sponsored by Randy Wood (R).
What is the current status of HB 151?
This bill died with 2023 Regular Session. It reached “In Committee” and never advanced before the session ended, so it can no longer move — a new version would have to be reintroduced in the current session.
Where can I track HB 151?
Track HB 151 free on One Click Politics — get push/email alerts when it moves.

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