House Bill No. 514, introduced by Representative Willard, aims to amend R.S. 22:1059.1, which oversees the Louisiana Doula Registry Board within the Louisiana Department of Health. The bill proposes significant changes to the board's composition and regulatory authority, including the deletion of legislative findings related to maternal and infant health statistics. The new board structure will consist of nine doulas representing each geographic region of Louisiana, a woman with lived experience of birth under doula care, and representatives from specific organizations. The bill also clarifies the board's authority to establish guidelines for the registration process and outlines the responsibilities of the administrative staff provided by the Louisiana Department of Health.

In addition to these changes, the bill retains the requirement for the board to maintain a statewide registry of doulas eligible for health insurance reimbursement. It specifies that board members will serve two-year terms without compensation, though they may receive reimbursement for travel expenses approved by the secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health. The bill also removes one member from the Community Birth Companion and eliminates the Qualities Initiatives Manager from the board, while adding the assistant secretary of the Louisiana Department of Health, office of public health, to a nonvoting subcommittee. Furthermore, it deletes the provision that restricts the department from independently assessing an applicant's eligibility for registration and reviewing applications prior to submission to the doula registry board. Overall, these amendments aim to enhance the regulatory framework for doula services and improve access to care for pregnant women in Louisiana.

Statutes affected:
HB514 Original:
HB514 Engrossed:
HB514 Reengrossed: