BILL NUMBER: S5665
SPONSOR: CLEARE
 
TITLE OF BILL:
An act to amend the public health law, in relation to establishing a
doula awareness and education program
 
PURPOSE OR GENERAL IDEA OF BILL::
Facilitates the creation of an ongoing public awareness and education
program on doulas and how beneficial they are to pregnancies.
 
SUMMARY OF PROVISIONS::
The state law is amended by adding a new section 207-B to article 2 to
increase awareness on doulas.
 
JUSTIFICATION::
Maternal mortality has been a persistent issue that has plagued our
country. Unfortunately, in the United States racial disparities have
reinforced inequitable access to proper maternal care. This along with
other factors such as the community, facility, patient, and provider has
led to an increase in maternal deaths amongst Black women. A doula is a
trained professional who provides emotional, physical, and enlightening
support during pregnancy, delivery, and birth. They can help decrease
the maternal mortality rate especially for women with higher risk preg-
nancies.
By establishing a doula awareness and education program more people will
be informed about what a doula is and how beneficial they can be to a
pregnancy. There are often gaps when providing individualized attention
to parents during labor. A doula can fill this gap by providing contin-
uous and personalized support to ensure the safety of the birthgiver.
The birth of a child is something so beautiful - something a parent
should not have to lose their life for. By increasing awareness of
doulas and how they can improve pregnancy we can be saving lives that do
not need to be lost.
 
PRIOR LEGISLATIVE HISTORY::
New bill.
 
FISCAL IMPLICATIONS FOR STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS::
None.
 
EFFECTIVE DATE::
This act shall take effect immediately.