Alabama Senate Bill SB110

Alabama 2026 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/13/26
• Refer: 1/13/26

Caption

Nurses; endorsement by certain certified nurses deemed endorsement by physician for K-12 school athletic participation physicals; schools prohibited from being member of athletic association that refuses to comply

Impact

The bill's approval could significantly impact public K-12 schools and athletic associations within Alabama. If enacted, it will expand the scope of practice for certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives, allowing them to fulfill roles traditionally reserved for physicians. Importantly, it also mandates that no public school can belong to any athletic association that does not accept such endorsements. This may lead to changes in how physical examinations are processed and accepted for student athletes, thereby influencing school policy and student participation rates.

Summary

SB110 seeks to amend existing legislation to allow endorsements from certified registered nurse practitioners and certified nurse midwives to be recognized equivalently to those from physicians regarding student participation in K-12 school athletics. The bill stipulates that physical examination forms associated with athletic participation, which are endorsed by these medical professionals, will satisfy current obligations that typically require a physician's endorsement. This change aims to enhance accessibility to physical examinations for students involved in school athletics.

Contention

There may be potential points of contention surrounding SB110. Advocates argue that it would help alleviate barriers to access for students wishing to participate in school athletics by utilizing the existing healthcare workforce without requiring a physician’s endorsement. However, critics may express concerns regarding the adequacy of care, questioning whether the qualifications of nurse practitioners and midwives are sufficient to replace physician endorsements for physical examinations. Additionally, there may be ongoing debates about the implications for healthcare roles within the educational system.