HB525 Summary

• Amends Section 22-21-29 of the Alabama Code to extend the prohibition on advance disclosure of inspection dates and times to employees and agents of county health departments, not just state employees.

• Prohibits any state or county employee or agent from disclosing in advance the date or time of inspections for hospitals and health care facilities to persons with financial interests, facility employees/agents, consultants/contractors, or blood/marriage relatives of these parties.

• Establishes criminal penalties of Class A misdemeanor for state or county employees who violate the prohibition and for persons who solicit such employees to disclose inspection information with intent to share it with others.

• Creates exceptions allowing advance notice for pre-licensure inspections, federally-mandated disclosures, and regularly scheduled inspections at predictable intervals, as well as exceptions the State Board of Health may prescribe by rule.

• Takes effect on the first day of the third month following passage and approval by the Governor.