HB44 Summary

• Requires the Alabama Department of Corrections to give detained individuals the opportunity within 48 hours of custody to provide emergency contact information and details about medical decision-makers, powers of attorney, advanced directives, and do-not-resuscitate orders for inclusion in their custodial record.

• Mandates notification of emergency contacts within 24 hours of a detained individual's death, including circumstances of death, official time of death, and investigation status.

• Requires notification of emergency contacts as soon as practicable when a detained individual suffers a serious medical condition (including imminent death without treatment, required hospitalization, suicide attempts, inability to consent to treatment, or terminal illness diagnosis).

• Notifications for serious medical conditions must include the cause and nature of the condition, whether the individual is incapacitated or unconscious, medical procedures performed or planned, and contact information for the treatment provider.

• Becomes effective on October 1, 2024.