MONTGOMERY — Members of the Senate County and Municipal Government Committee passed legislation on Tuesday codifying definitions of male and female into Alabama law with an amendment to address a recent controversy surrounding Huntsville's U.S. Space and Rocket Center's Space Camp.
House Bill 111, sponsored by State Rep. Susan DuBose (R-Hoover), would codify concise biological definitions within state law, allowing for distinct male and female spaces without state restrictions.
“It codifies the time-honored definitions of male-female, man-woman, boy-girl, mother-father, and sex. This bill is definitional for our courts to have guidance when interpreting laws that already exist in Alabama. Words have meaning and my intent is to make sure we have uniform definitions and our courts have clarity,” DuBose said during the committee meeting.
The bill would codify the definitions of man, woman, boy, girl, father, mother, male, female, and sex in Alabama law and allow local public entities to establish separate single-sex spaces or environments in certain circumstances. It would also allow for alternative gender identities while still allowing certain female-only spaces.
The amendment added on in committee requires that any state-operated or funded agency that operates or sponsors overnight programs with minors with multiple occupancy bathrooms, changing rooms, or sleeping areas not to permit members of the opposite sex to share those spaces, with exceptions for family members, legal guardians, or a minor who has received permission from family or a legal guardian to do so.
The bill now heads to the full Senate for their consideration.
To connect with the author of this story or to comment, email caleb.taylor@1819News.com.
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