Alabama
Who is a reporter?
All hospitals, clinics, sanitariums, doctors, physicians, surgeons, medical examiners, coroners, dentists, osteopaths, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, physical therapists, nurses, public and private K-12 employees, school teachers and officials, peace officers, law enforcement officials, pharmacists, social workers, day care workers or employees, mental health professionals, employees of public and private institutions of postsecondary and higher education, members of the clergy as defined in Rule 505 of the Alabama Rules of Evidence, or any other person called upon to render aid or medical assistance to any child.
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Employers or potential employers may request clearances and receive information on persons who, as employees will provide unsupervised care and/or supervision of children. Licensed child placing agencies may also receive information on persons applying to adopt or operate a foster family home. Information contained in the CA/N Central Registry is confidential and may only be shared for the purpose of discovering or preventing child abuse.
This act creates a central registry containing the names of those who have abused, neglected, exploited, or committed crimes against the elderly and other adults in need of protective services. The central registry is similar to the child abuse and neglect central registry maintained by DHR pursuant to Ala. Code § 26-14-8. Under the Alabama Elder and Adult in Need of Protective Services Abuse Registry, also known as Shirley’s Law, certain service providers must query the registry to determine whether any of their employees or volunteers have a history of abuse, neglect, exploitation, or crimes against the elderly or adults in need of protective services. The law also provides a due process procedure for those accused of abuse, neglect, and exploitation, as well as a mechanism by which an individual may have his or her report expunged from the registry.
