The bill, Substitute House Bill No. 5322, introduced in the General Assembly with File No. 108, concerns the distribution of educational materials regarding intimate partner violence toward pregnant and postpartum patients. The bill mandates the maternal mortality review committee to develop educational materials on intimate partner violence specifically targeted at pregnant and postpartum individuals by January 1, 2025. These materials are to be distributed by the Department of Public Health (DPH) in print to each birthing hospital and birth center in the state, and electronically to obstetricians and other health care providers who practice obstetrics. The bill also requires these facilities and providers to provide the educational materials to their pregnant and postpartum patients.

The bill includes several insertions and deletions to the current law. It removes the deadline of January 1, 2023, for the development of certain educational materials and instead inserts a new provision for the development of materials on intimate partner violence. Additionally, the bill adds a new definition for "birth center" and specifies that each birthing hospital must establish a patient portal for postpartum patients to access educational materials. The bill also stipulates that each birthing hospital and birth center must provide the newly developed educational materials to pregnant and postpartum patients starting January 1, 2025. The fiscal impact statement indicates a one-time cost of approximately $60,000 to the DPH for printing the materials, with no municipal impact. The bill is effective upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Raised Bill:
PH Joint Favorable Substitute:
File No. 108: