Bill > HB520

This bill, known as the Alabama Conscientious Right to Refuse Act, establishes protections for individuals who choose not to receive certain medical treatments, vaccines, or wear facial coverings based on conscience or religious convictions. The bill prohibits discrimination by employers, public accommodations, hospitals, health plan insurers, and occupational licensing boards against individuals who refuse biologics, DNA-based products, drugs, gene editing technologies, pharmaceuticals, RNA-based products, or vaccines. Specifically, employers cannot discriminate in hiring, promotion, or job conditions; public accommodations cannot deny services; hospitals and insurers cannot deny medical care or insurance coverage; and licensing boards cannot deny or revoke professional licenses based on an individual's immunization status or refusal to comply with medical interventions. The bill allows individuals who experience discrimination to seek injunctions and potentially receive attorney fees, and empowers the Attorney General to defend entities facing federal penalties for complying with this act. If an entity faces federal fines or mandates due to compliance with this law, the Attorney General may defend the entity to protect its right to follow the state law. The act is set to become effective on June 1, 2025, and provides detailed definitions of discrimination across different contexts to ensure comprehensive protection for individuals exercising their right to refuse certain medical treatments or interventions.

Health and Social Services

https://alison.legislature.state.al.us/bill-search