Bill > HB54

This bill, known as the Alabama Women's Childbirth Alternatives, Resources, and Education (CARE) Act, establishes a process for pregnant women who have been sentenced to imprisonment to receive a pre-incarceration probation period. Upon intake at a jail, women will be asked about potential pregnancy and offered a pregnancy test, with positive results reported to the court and county health department. If a pregnant woman does not pose a significant threat, the court will release her on bail and provide a pre-incarceration probation term that covers her entire pregnancy and 12 weeks after childbirth. During this period, probation will be supervised remotely through phone or electronic communication, and the woman must maintain perinatal healthcare and participate in available education and resource programs. The woman will be required to self-surrender to the correctional facility 12 weeks after giving birth, and failure to do so will result in a Class A misdemeanor. No fines or fees will be assessed during this probation period, and the time served will be credited toward her original sentence. The act is set to become effective on October 1, 2026, providing a compassionate alternative to immediate incarceration for pregnant women.

Justice

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