Attorney General Troy King is urging the Alabama Legislature to stiffen penalties for those operating unlicensed elderly care facilities in the state.

Currently, state law requires that health care facilities be licensed and regulated by the Alabama Department of Public Health.

Officials estimate that at least 250 knowingly operate without a license, and king says it is time for the problem to be fixed.

King says, "People shouldn't be allowed to operate a facility where people place someone they love and think they are safe and they're not. They’re not safe because they haven't come in compliance with important safety code regulations."

If passed, the bill would make it a Class A misdemeanor with fines of up to $5,000 for operation of an illegal elderly healthcare facility