Alabama's state legislature passed a bill to Gov. Kay Ivey's desk for signature to require convicted sex offenders involving a child to undergo chemical castration before they can be released from prison.

The legislation, known as House Bill 379, states that criminals convicted for a sexual offense involving anyone under the age of 13 would be "required to undergo chemical castration treatment in addition to any other penalty or condition prescribed by law."

The law, which was sent to Ivey's desk over the weekend, said it would also require the criminal to foot the bill for the procedure, but also states that the bill would "prohibit a person from being denied parole because of indigency."

This bill would also provide that if a person is ordered to undergo chemical castration treatment as a condition of parole and the person refuses to undergo the treatment, his or her refusal would constitute a violation of parole and 6 would result in the person being remanded to the custody of the Department of Corrections," the legislation also reads.

Alabama state Rep. Steve Hurst (R) told local station WIAT that the bill "would deter something like this happening again in Alabama and maybe reduce the numbers" if it becomes law.

"I had people call me in the past when I introduced it and said, 'don't you think this is inhumane?'" Hurst said of the bill. "I asked them what's more inhumane than when you take a little infant child, and you sexually molest that infant child when the child cannot defend themselves or get away, and they have to go through all the things they have to go through. If you want to talk about inhumane--that's inhumane."

"They have marked this child for life and the punishment should fit the crime," he also said.

If signed by Ivey, the bill would take effect on "first day of the third month following its passage and approval by the governor, or its otherwise becoming law," the measure states.

https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/446949-alabama-bill-would-require-child-sex-offenders-to-undergo-chemical