AL SB84

Alabama Department of Public Health gains jurisdiction over food sanitation in all Department of Corrections facilities and county/municipal jails, including cafeterias, canteens, and commissaries serving inmates

Local county health officers will enforce sanitation standards, conduct inspections, issue scores, and prescribe corrective actions for violations

Department of Public Health cannot order suspension or termination of a correctional food service without agreement from the Commissioner of Corrections or the relevant county/municipal governing body

Private contractors providing food services to inmates remain fully subject to existing state food sanitation rules without the same closure protections

Effective date: October 1, 2026