HB101

ENROLLED, An Act,

To amend Section 26-1-1, Code of Alabama 1975, relating to the age of majority, to designate the age of majority as 18 years for the purpose of giving consent to participate in certain research conducted by a college or university.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF ALABAMA:Section 1. Section 26-1-1 of the Code of Alabama 1975, is amended to read as follows:

§26-1-1.

"(a) Any person in this state, at the arrival at the age of 19 years, shall be relieved of his or her disabilities of minority and thereafter shall have the same legal rights and abilities as persons over 21 years of age. No law of this state shall discriminate for or against any person between and including the ages of 19 and 21 years solely on the basis of age.

"(b) This section shall also apply to any person who arrived at the age of 19 and 20 years before July 22, 1975, but shall not abrogate any defense or abridge any remedy available to him or her prior to such date.

"(c) All laws or parts of laws which read "under the age of 21 years" hereafter shall read "under the age of 19 years." Wherever the words "under the age of 21 years" appear in any law limiting the legal rights and abilities of persons under such age, such words shall be construed to mean under the age of 19 years.

"(d) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, nothing in this section shall be deemed to repeal any provision of Chapter 19 of Title 15 of this code.

"(e) Notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a), an honorably discharged veteran who is under the age of 19 shall be permitted to enter into a contract for the purchase of a motor vehicle.

"(f) Notwithstanding subsection (a), or any other provision of law to the contrary, a person who is 18 years of age or older may consent to participate in research conducted by a college or university that is accredited by a federally recognized accrediting agency if the research has been approved by the Institutional Review Board of the institution."

Section 2. This act shall become effective immediately following its passage and approval by the Governor, or its otherwise becoming law.

Colleges and Universities

Minors

Education

Code Amended