SB457 - Alabama Health Care Rights of Conscience Act

• Grants health care providers, institutions, and payers the right to decline participation in health care services that violate their religious, moral, or ethical conscience without civil, criminal, or administrative liability.

• Prohibits discrimination against health care providers, institutions, and payers based on their refusal to participate in services violating their conscience, including termination, demotion, loss of privileges, or denial of benefits.

• Exempts conscience-based refusals from protection if based on patient characteristics including race, color, national origin, ethnicity, sex, religion, creed, or sexual orientation.

• Establishes civil liability for violations with treble damages (three times actual damages) plus costs and attorney's fees, with minimum recovery of $5,000 per violation; allows injunctive relief including reinstatement.

• Becomes effective on the first day of the third month following passage and gubernatorial approval.