S T A T E   O F   N E W   Y O R K
 ________________________________________________________________________
 
                                   9035
 
                           I N  A S S E M B L Y
 
                             February 5, 2024
                                ___________
 
 Introduced  by  M.  of A. BICHOTTE HERMELYN -- read once and referred to
   the Committee on Health
 
 AN ACT to amend the public health law, in  relation  to  doula  friendly
   work spaces
 
   THE  PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, REPRESENTED IN SENATE AND ASSEM-
 BLY, DO ENACT AS FOLLOWS:
 
   Section 1. Legislative findings.  The  legislature  acknowledges  that
 doulas  face  exclusionary  measures  in gaining recognition and overall
 integration within the maternal health continuum, such as hospitals  and
 birthing  centers. The legislature declares that the purpose of this act
 is to study and report on the integration of doula care and services  in
 the  healthcare  continuum  and to recommend best practices to designate
 doula friendly spaces in New York state.
   § 2. The public health law is amended by adding a new section 2803-j-1
 to read as follows:
   § 2803-J-1. DESIGNATING DOULA FRIENDLY SPACES STUDY. 1. THE DEPARTMENT
 SHALL CONDUCT A STUDY TO EXAMINE AND EVALUATE CURRENT PRACTICES  ON  THE
 INTEGRATION  OF  DOULA  CARE,  SERVICES,  AND  SUPPORT  WITHIN  BIRTHING
 CENTERS, HOSPITALS, AND OTHER HEALTHCARE DELIVERY FACILITIES. THIS STUDY
 SHALL REPORT  SUCH  FINDINGS  THROUGH  COMPREHENSIVE  METRICS  ON  DOULA
 FRIENDLINESS  IN FACILITIES ACROSS THE GEOGRAPHIC DIVERSITY OF THE STATE
 THAT ARE LICENSED UNDER  THIS  ARTICLE.    FACTORS  AND  METRICS  TO  BE
 REPORTED BY THE STUDY SHALL INCLUDE BUT NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A) IDENTIFYING AND ENGAGING WITH DOULA LED AND CENTERED ORGANIZATIONS
 ON THEIR CURRENT PROGRAMS REGARDING DOULA INTEGRATION;
   (B) IDENTIFYING HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING CENTERS THAT ARE DOULA FRIENDLY
 IN THEIR OPERATION;
   (C)  IDENTIFYING SUCCESSFUL DOULA INTEGRATION PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES
 IN HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING CENTERS IN NEW YORK STATE; AND
   (D) IDENTIFYING SUCCESSFUL DOULA INTEGRATION PROGRAMS AND  INITIATIVES
 IN OTHER STATES.
   2. THE STUDY SHALL ALSO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS ON BEST PRACTICES FOR THE
 STATE  TO  HELP  FACILITATE  DOULA INTEGRATION AND DOULA FRIENDLINESS IN
 
  EXPLANATION--Matter in ITALICS (underscored) is new; matter in brackets
                       [ ] is old law to be omitted.
                                                            LBD13598-01-3
              

 A. 9035                             2
 
 HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING CENTERS. SUCH RECOMMENDATIONS SHALL INCLUDE,  BUT
 NOT BE LIMITED TO:
   (A)  BEST  PRACTICES THAT DOULAS CURRENTLY OPERATING IN NEW YORK STATE
 RECOMMEND FOR PROPER INTEGRATION;
   (B) CRITERIA FOR HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING  CENTERS  FOR  INTEGRATION  OF
 DOULAS AND DOULA CARE INTO THE VARYING PROCESSES OF BIRTH;
   (C)  CRITERIA  FOR HOW THE STATE SHOULD BEST SUPPORT THE FORMAL DESIG-
 NATION OF DOULA FRIENDLY PLACES;
   (D) CRITERIA FOR HOW HOSPITALS AND BIRTHING CENTERS SHALL GIVE  DOULAS
 VISITOR STATUS OR EQUAL STATUS IN THE FACILITIES;
   (E) CRITERIA FOR DOULA PRESENCE IN THE BIRTHING ROOM;
   (F) CRITERIA FOR INCLUSION OF DOULAS IN THE HEALTHCARE CONTINUUM;
   (G)  BEST  PRACTICES AND CRITERIA FOR THE COLLECTION OF DATA REGARDING
 DOULA FRIENDLINESS AND INTEGRATION; AND
   (H) BEST PRACTICES FOR THE REPORTING OF METRICS FOR DOULA FRIENDLINESS
 AND INTEGRATION.
   3. ON OR BEFORE DECEMBER THIRTY-FIRST, TWO THOUSAND  TWENTY-FOUR,  THE
 DEPARTMENT  SHALL  SUBMIT  A  FINAL  REPORT  CONTAINING ALL FINDINGS AND
 RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE GOVERNOR, THE TEMPORARY PRESIDENT OF THE  SENATE,
 AND THE SPEAKER OF THE ASSEMBLY.
   §  3.  This  act shall take effect on the thirtieth day after it shall
 have become a law.