The bill amends Section 22-8-4 of the Code of Alabama 1975 to establish new requirements regarding the consent needed for minors to receive vaccinations. Specifically, it introduces a new subsection (b) that stipulates that an unemancipated minor cannot give consent for vaccination without the written consent of a parent or legal guardian. Furthermore, it specifies that an unemancipated minor may only consent to vaccination if they are either not dependent on a parent or legal guardian for support or are living apart from their parents or another individual acting in loco parentis.

In addition to the new provisions, the bill also makes several deletions to the existing law. It removes the previous conditions under which a minor could give effective consent for medical services, such as being married or having graduated from high school. The bill is set to take effect on October 1, 2025, following its passage in the House of Representatives.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 22-8-4, 22-8-4
Engrossed: 22-8-4, 22-8-4