Code of Alabama - Title 26: Infants and Incompetents - Chapter 14 - Reporting of Child Abuse or Neglect

• Section 26-14-1 Definitions
  For the purposes of this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings respectively ascribed to them by this section: (1) ABUSE. Harm or threatened...
• Section 26-14-2 Purpose of chapter
  In order to protect children whose health and welfare may be adversely affected through abuse and neglect, the Legislature hereby provides for the reporting of...
• Section 26-14-3 Mandatory reporting
  (a) 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...
• Section 26-14-4 Permissive reporting
  In addition to those persons, firms, corporations, and officials required by Section 26-14-3 to report child abuse and neglect, any person may make such a...
• Section 26-14-5 Contents of reports
  The reports provided for in this chapter shall state, if known, the name of the child, his or her whereabouts, the names and addresses of...
• Section 26-14-6 Temporary protective custody
  A police officer, a law enforcement official, or a designated employee of the State or County Department of Human Resources may take a child into...
• Section 26-14-6.1 Duties and responsibilities for investigation of reports
  The duty and responsibility for the investigation of reports of suspected child abuse or neglect shall be as follows: (1) Reports of suspected child abuse...
• Section 26-14-7 Duties of Department of Human Resources
  (a) The State or County Department of Human Resources shall make a thorough investigation promptly upon either the oral or written report. The primary purpose...
• Section 26-14-7.1 Due process rights for persons under investigation by department
  Any person who comes under investigation by the Department of Human Resources for the abuse or neglect of a child or children and who is...
• Section 26-14-7.2 Child denied medical treatment due to parents' religious beliefs
  (a) When an investigation of child abuse or neglect by the Department of Human Resources determines that a parent or legal guardian legitimately practicing his...
• Section 26-14-8 Statewide central registry
  (a) For the purposes of this section, the following words shall have the following meanings, respectively: (1) INDICATED. When credible evidence and professional judgment substantiates...
• Section 26-14-9 Immunity from liability for actions under chapter
  Any person, firm, corporation, or official, including members of a multidisciplinary child protection team, quality assurance team, child death review team, or other authorized case...
• Section 26-14-10 Doctrine of privileged communications not grounds for exclusion of evidence as to child's injuries
  The doctrine of privileged communication, with the exception of the attorney-client privilege, shall not be a ground for excluding any evidence regarding a child's injuries...
• Section 26-14-11 Appointment of attorney to represent child
  In every case involving an abused or neglected child which results in a judicial proceeding, an attorney shall be appointed to represent the child in...
• Section 26-14-12 Establishment of regulations by Department of Human Resources
  The State Department of Human Resources may establish such regulations as may be necessary to implement this chapter and to encourage cooperation with other states...
• Section 26-14-13 Penalty for failure to make required report
  Any person who shall knowingly fail to make the report required by this chapter shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and shall be punished by...

Last modified: May 3, 2021