The proposed bill updates current statutes by establishing the Maternal Mortality Review Program (MMR Program) to evaluate pregnancy-associated deaths in Arizona, transferring this responsibility from the State Child Fatality Review Team. It introduces new provisions, including the formation of a maternal mortality review committee with specific membership requirements and the mandate to produce biennial reports on maternal fatalities. The bill also changes the chapter heading from "CHILD FATALITIES" to "CHILD AND MATERNAL DEATHS" and the article heading from "GENERAL PROVISIONS" to "CHILD FATALITIES AND MATERNAL MORTALITY."

Additionally, the bill removes the requirement for local child fatality review teams to review death certificates of women in their jurisdiction and eliminates the definition of "maternal fatalities associated with pregnancy." It defines "pregnancy-associated death" and incorporates the MMR Program into the operations of child fatality review teams, allowing for information sharing while protecting members from civil or criminal questioning regarding shared information. The bill emphasizes the use of trauma-informed interview techniques when engaging with affected families, ensuring a sensitive approach to the review process.

Statutes affected:
Introduced Version: 36-3501, 36-3501.01, 36-3502, 36-3503, 8-807.01, 36-3506
Senate Engrossed Version: 36-3501, 36-3501.01, 36-3502, 36-3503, 8-807.01, 36-3506
Chaptered Version: 36-3501, 36-3501.01, 36-3502, 36-3503, 8-807.01, 36-3506