The bill amends Section 13A-6-3 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to further define the crime of manslaughter. It introduces new legal language specifying that a person commits manslaughter if they knowingly distribute a controlled substance that contains fentanyl or any mixture or analogue of fentanyl, resulting in the death of the user. This amendment targets the distribution of fentanyl, a potent synthetic opioid, by making distributors criminally liable for deaths caused by the drug. The bill clarifies that it is not a defense for the distributor to claim ignorance of the presence of fentanyl in the substance they distributed.

The bill also states that manslaughter remains a Class B felony and specifies that the new provisions do not apply to licensed medical professionals acting within the scope of their practice. Additionally, the bill is exempt from the requirements under Section 111.05 of the Constitution of Alabama of 2022, which pertains to the requirement of new or increased expenditure of local funds, because it defines a new crime or amends the definition of an existing crime. The act is set to become effective immediately upon its passage. The bill was passed by the House on February 22, 2024, and by the Senate on April 11, 2024.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 13A-6-3
Engrossed: 13A-6-3
Enrolled: 13A-6-3