HB297 Summary: Safe and Healthy Outdoor Recreation Act of 2023

• State Health Officer shall issue fish consumption advisories when reasonable and necessary to protect public health, publish advisories on the Alabama Department of Public Health website, and maintain a dedicated telephone number for advisory information.

• State Health Officer shall establish an advisory panel consisting of representatives from the Alabama Department of Public Health, Department of Environmental Management, Department of Conservation and Natural Resources, and other appropriate agencies or organizations to meet at least annually and review sampling methodologies, water bodies, fish species, pollutant toxicity limits, and communication strategies.

• Alabama Department of Environmental Management shall conduct regular fish tissue monitoring to evaluate safe consumption levels and annually publish a report on its website detailing the methodology and reasoning for species and pollutants chosen.

• Department of Environmental Management shall post signage at public boat ramps and fishing areas with active fish consumption advisories, including fish species names, recommended consumption levels, warnings for pregnant or nursing women, and contact information for additional resources.

• Department of Conservation and Natural Resources shall notify all electronic fishing license purchasers of current fish consumption advisories by providing an internet address to access all active advisories online.